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Crenelle, 

Levi 

Osborn, 

1821 

1914. 

Life  and 

lab' 

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LIFE  AND  LABORS 

OF 

ELDER  ZELOTES  G-RENELL: 

FOR  SIXTY-FOUR  YEARS  AN  EMINENTLY  SUCCESSFUL 
BAPTIST  MINISTER. 


1818— 1882. 


L.  O.  CRENELLE. 


Published  by  North  New  Jersey 
Baptist  Association. 
1885. 


DEDICATION. 
TO  MRS.  ELIZA  GRENELL, 

The  surviving  widow  of  the  departed, 

WHO  so  FAITHFULLY  WALKED  BY  HIS  SIDE  FOR  FORTY-SEVEN  YEARS, 

WHO  SO  PATIENTLY  ADMINISTERED  TO  HIS  WANTS  IN  SICKNESS, 

AND  SO  TENDERLY  CHERISHES  HIS  MEMORY, 

THIS  WORK  IS  RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED 
BY  THE  AUTHOK. 


Contents. 

PAGE 

I.  Introduction.        ...-----  5 

II.  Birth,  Name,  Early  Life.      ------  11 

III.  Conversion  and  Baptism.             ...---  17 

IV.  Call  to  the  Ministry.                        -            -            .                        -  27 

V.  Settlement,  "Wantage,  Orange.          -           -           -     «      -           -  33 

VI.  Old  School  Control-erst.               -----  47 

VII.  Labors  in  Paierson.  .  -  .  .  -  -  58 
VII^  Four  Yeats  n  New  York.  -  C6 
IX.  Frv-E  ^"ears  in  Elmiea.  -  .  .  -  -  74 
X-            In  Pateeson,  Horseheads,  Honesdale.               -           -           -  8l 

XI.  In  Port  Jervis.                .-...--  88 

XII.  In  Glenwood  and  Millington.      -----  92 

XIII.  Labors  in  Hackensack.              -..--.  99 

XIV.  Paterson  the  Third  Church.      -----  109 

XV.  Sickness,  decline  and  Death.         -----  115 

XVI.  COTEMPORARIES.  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -122 

XVII.  As  A  Man  and  as  a  Preacher.  -  ...  -  129 
XVm.     His  own  Testimony  in  his  own  Language.       ...           -  145 

Testtmont^    of  Others. 

Rev.  J.  B.  Case,               -.-.--.-  153 

"      J.  C.  Carpenter,           --------  155 

"      T.  Armitage  D.  D.,                        ------  158 

••     Geo.  C.  BALDwm  D.  D. 

"      W.  H.  Parmly, 159 

Dr.  a.  H.  Burlingham   ,-           -           -           -           -           -           -  162 

A  Monument,  of  Sovereign  Grace.            -           ...           -  i66 

In  Memoriam.-                   .......  173 

XXI.  Family  Record.           .......  i76 

APPENDIX.  183 

XXII.  Correspondence.  ---.... 

XXin       REVn-AL   INCLDENT.                                ......  I93 

SERMONS. 

Thanksgiving  at  Millington.         ..--..  195 

Jubilee  at  Clinton.                      -           -           -           -           -           ■           -  203 

The  Blind  and  Deaf  Servant.         -           -           -           -           -           -  213 

The  All  Sufficiency  of  Christ.           -           -           -           -           -           -  251 

The  Glory  of  Gospel  Baptism       ......  228 

Divine  Instruction.          .-..-..-  235 

Revealing  Secrets.    --------  243 


INTRODUCTION. 

The  North  New  Jersey  Baptist  Association  at 
its  Fifty-first  Anniversary,  held  with  the  Echo  Lake 
Baptist  Church,  June  nth  and  I2th,  1884,  adopted 
the  following  :     (Item   51   of  minutes.) 

"Kesolved,  That  Brother  Levi  O.  Grenelle  be  encouraged  to 
prepare  and  publish  a  small  volume  in  memory  of  his  revered 
father  and  our  beloved  brother,  Kev.  Zelotes  Grgnell ;  and  that 
a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  co-operate  with  him  in  this 
work  and  to  secure  advanced  subscriptions." 

In  compliance  with  this  action,  the  writer  has 
undertaken  the  present  effort.  It  would  be  unbe- 
coming in  him  as  a  son  of  an  honored  father  and 
member  of  the  Association  that  wishes  to  honor 
his  memory  for  the  work  done  in  building  up  church- 
es within  its  bounds,  not  to  undertake  the  task. 
What  he  would  not  endeavor  to  do  on  his  own 
resolve,  he  gladly  undertakes  at  the  request  of  his 
brethren.  It  is  an  honest  effort  in  remembrance 
of  a  faithful   minister   of  Christ. 

He  will  not  attempt  to  write  the  life  of  Elder 
Zelotes  Grenell.  This  he  conceives  to  be  an  al- 
most impossible  thing  for  any  one  to  do.  He  has 
never  lived    under   the  paternal  roof  since    a  little 


6  Introduction. 

over  fourteen  years  of  age.  And  during  the  last 
forty  years  we  have  only  occasionally  been  thrown 
together  in  religious  meetings  or  in  the  home  of 
either;  consequently  others  may  have  known  him 
far  better  as  a  preacher,  and  been  so  thrown  in- 
to his  society  as  to  form  a  more  correct  idea  of 
the  man  than  the  writer  can  give.  He  is  deeply 
conscious  of  inability  to  do  justice  to  his  memory. 
Adopting  the  language  of  another:  '' The  man  was 
larger  and  broader  than  any  description  that  he  can 
give  of  him.  He  is  certain  that  he  cannot  pre- 
sent even  his  own  ideal  of  him."  But  an  honest 
effort  to  administer  to  the  enjoyment  of  many 
brethren  by  presenting  before  them  a  short  sketch 
of  his  early  life  and  public  labors  is  the  aim.  It 
is  not  undertaken  for  the  purpose  of  praising  the 
dead  nor  of  bringing  the  writer  into  notice,  but  of 
bringing  a  tribute  to  his  memory,  and  laying  it  at 
the  foot  of  the  cross,  as  a  thank  offering  to  God 
for  giving  to  the  church  such  a  shining  light  and 
to  his  children  such  a  father. 

The  work  has  been  undertaken  and  proseclited  in 
the  midst  of  more  than  ordinarily  laborious  minister- 
ial duties.  It  has  been  cherished  as  a  work  of  love 
during  weeks  of  sickness  and  great  weakness  of  the 
flesh.  It  has  been  written  a  little  at  a  time,  as  health 
and    ministerial    duties     allowed,    with    cheerfulness 


Introduction.  7 

and  for  the  glory  of  God.  It  is  the  tirst  venture  in 
this  Hne,  and  must  be  exceedingly  imperfect  as  a 
memoir,  owing  to  the  scantness  of  material  from 
which  to  draw  and  the  unfitness  of  tlie  writer  for 
such  work.  But  the  hope  is  cherished  that  many 
will  prize  the  volume  and  read  it  with  pleasure. 
A  few  sermons  will  be  included  in  the  plan  of  the 
book,  reminding  them  of  his  manner  of  preaching. 
The  account  of  his  conversion  and  call  to  the  min- 
istry will  reveal  the  genuine  nature  of  the  work 
wrought  in  him,  and  give  the  solution  of  such  a  life 
of  patient  toil.  It  was  an  inspiration  early  impart- 
ed and  never  failing  him  in  the  battle  of  life.  Let 
us  thank  God  for  such  men  and  be  encouraged  by 
their  example. 

The  writer  is  fully  aware  that  no  'great  value 
or  permanent  worth  belongs  to  a  work  of  this  kind. 
Many  of  the  books  published  are  ephemeral  in  their 
nature.  The  present  good,  however,  is  important, 
and  as  a  link  in  the  chain  of  life  its  influence  may 
reach  beyond  our  ken,  as  waves  of  the  ocean  wash 
a  foreign  shore.  As  the  generation  now  living  and 
their  children  pass  away  it  will  fade  from  memory 
and  both  man  and  memoir  will  be  forgotten.  Sad 
the  expression,  "be  forgotten,"  but  true,  in  its  turn,  of 
us  all.  Heaven  alone  garners  up  the  good  of  earth 
and  suffers  nothing  of  enduring  worth  to  be  forgotten. 


8  Introduction. 

Some  one  has  said  that  the  value  of  a  narrative 
depends  often  not  so  much  on  what  is  said  as  what 
is  not  said.  To  draw  the  proper  line  between  what 
shall  go  into  a  book  of  this  kind  and  what  would 
be  out  of  place  here,  is  not  so  easy  a  task  as  many- 
imagine  it  to  be.  No  little  perplexity  has  been  felt 
by  the  writer  on  this  point.  He  has  endeavored 
to  make  it  a  worthy  memento  to  the  man  as  a 
servant  of  God  and  a  good  minister  of  the  Gospel 
of  Christ. 

To  the  committee  appointed  by  the  association  to 
aid  in  the  publication  of  the  memoir  for  their  coun- 
cil and  co-operation,  to  the  brethren  in  the  minis- 
try who  have  so  kindly  furnished  reminiscences, 
and  to  the  younger  brother,  Zelotes,  of  Detroit, 
Michigan,  for  his  suggestions  and  aid  in  shaping  some 
of  its  chapters,  the  thanks  of  the  author  are  due 
and  are  hereby  gratefully  presented. 


ELDER  ZELOTES  GRENELL. 


BIRTH,  NAME,  EARLY  ADVANTAGES. 

For  more  than  half  a  century  the  name  "Elder 
Zelotes  Grenell  "  has  been  a  familiar  one  in  northern 
New  Jersey;  and  the  man  of  God  thus  designated 
has  been  held  in  high  esteem  by  many  in  the  ranks 
of  Zion.  Even  now,  when  his  career  is  ended,  and  his 
place  of  public  labor  left  vacant,  the  mention  of  his 
name  to  one  remaining  of  his  early  associates  in  the 
cause  of  Christ,  causes  a  glow  of  countenance,  may 
be  the  relation  of  some  incident  in  his  earlv  ministry; 
and  a  falling  tear  tells  the  tale  of  the  high  position 
gained  in  the  affections  as  a  devoted  minister  of  the 
Gospel  of  Christ. 

This  is  tJie  name  by  which  he  has  been  known 
through  all  the  years  of  his  public  ministry.  Never 
has  he  been  called  "Doctor,"  rarely  "Reverend"  or 
"  Dominie,"  and  by  a  few  only,  during  the  last  years  of 
his  life,  "Father,"  but  by  the  great  majority  of  those 


12  Elder  Zelotes  Grexell. 

who  loved  him  and  sat  under  his  ministry,  Elder  Zelotes 
Grenell.  The  word  "Elder"  was  used  almost  exclu- 
sively fifty  years  ago  to  designate  a  minister  of  our 
denomination.  On  the  tomb-stone  of  his  first  wife, 
who  died  October,  1822,  are  the  words  "Wife  of  Elder 
Zelotes  Grenell."  And  the  writer  has  often  been 
asked,  when  introduced  to  a  brother  in  Christ,  "Are 
you  the  son  of  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell?"  Returning 
an  afifirmative  answer,  he  has  been  moved  to  tears 
by  the  instant  brightening  of  the  face  and  the  strong 
expression  of  esteem  given.  He  was  welcome  at 
once  among  strangers  for  his  venerable  father's  sake. 
This  name,  so  engraved  in  the  memory  of  many, 
will,  in  a  great  measure,  be  preserved  in  this  memoir. 

Elder  Zelotes  Grenell  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Courtright,  Delaware  County,  Ne\y  York,  on  the  eighth 
day  of  April,  1796.  He  was  the  third  child  then  liv- 
ing of  a  family  of  sixteen,  seven  of  whom  died  in 
infancy.  Nine  grew  up  to  manhood,  and  nearly  all 
attained  an  advanced  age  in  life. 

His  father,  Samuel  Grenell,  was  born  in  Saybrook, 
Connecticut,  1764;  but,  having  lost  his  father  when 
young,  he  removed  to  Salsbury,  where  he  married 
Rebecca  Wadsworth.  At  the  age  of  thirty  he  re- 
moved, with  his  two  children  then  living  and  the  wife 
o^"  his  youth,  to  CourtriglU,  about  two  )'ears  before  the 
birth  of  Zelotes. 


Birth,  >\\me,  Kai^ly  Ai)vanta(;es.  18 

These  parents  were  both  God  fearing,  devout 
people,  and  members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  The 
father  was  converted  and  professed  faith  in  Christ 
about  one  year  before  Zelotes  was  born.  Eight 
months  later  the  mother  put  on  Christ  by  baptism. 
Both  were  baptized  by  Elder  Warner  Lake  into  the 
fellowship  of  the  Harpersfield  Baptist  Church. 

Samuel  Grenell  was  by  occupation  a  farmer,  and 
in  humble  circumstances,  but  for  many  years  he 
was  also  a  licensed  or  local  preacher.  The  testimony 
of  the  son,  given  years  after  his  death  concerning 
him  in  this  calling  was,  "Of  but  ordinary  preaching 
talent,  but  w^arm  in  exhortation  and  very  powerful 
in  prayer."  He  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of 
seventy-seven,  faithful  and  true  to  his  profession.  His 
wife  attained  the  age  of  eighty-eight.  Of  a  mild 
and  gentle  spirit,  she  patiently  waited  her'appointed 
time  to  greet  him  in  heaven. 

The  family  altar  was  erected  in  this  home  and 
never  taken  down  while  the  head  and  father  re- 
mained to  officiate  there.  Morning  and  evening  a 
portion  of  God's  word  was  read  and  prayer  offered 
for  the  Divine  blessing  upon  the  children.  When 
unable  on  account  of  corpulence  and  increasing 
infirmities  to  kneel  in  prayer,  he  laid  "the  old 
familv  Bible"  on  a  small  stand  before  him,  and 
after    icridinc;    from    ihc     «>j>encd    book.    j)l:iccd     liis 


14  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

elbow  on  the  sacred  volume,  bowed  his  head  in 
reverence  forward  upon  his  hand,  and  thus  offered 
up  his  morning  and  evening  petition  to  his  Father 
in  heaven.  Under  such  hallowed  influences  and  with 
such  an  example  were  these  children  reared.  The 
consecration  of  the  parent  was  accepted  of  God,  and 
the  prayer  answered  by  the  early  conversion  of  all 
the  children,  making  them  a  household  of  faith. 

The  name  Grenell  is  French  and  correctly  spelled 
as  here,  with  the  exception  of  a  final  e.  There 
is  a  street  in  Paris  bearing  the  name,  a  manufact- 
uring suburb  of  the  French  capital  is  thus  named, 
the  great  artesian  well,  the  deepest  one  in  the 
world,  is  called  Grenelle,  and  in  Theirs'  History  of 
the  French  Revolution  the  name  frequently  occurs; 
in  all  these  instances  the  spelling  is  Grenelle.  It 
is  thus  evident  that  all  the  different  names,  Grinnell, 
Grennell,  Grenell  are  variations  from  the  original 
and  correct  spelling  of  the  name. 

The  ancestors  of  the  family  were  Huguenots,  who 
fled  from  France  on  account  of  religious  persecution, 
not  far  from  the  time  of  the  massacre  of  St.  Barthol 
omew,  1572.  "Wales  was  then  the  freest  country  in 
Europe,  and  there  they  found  a  home  and  resided 
for  more  than  a  century."  Nearly  two  hundred  years 
ago  two  brothers  by  the  name  of  Grenelle  immi- 
i/rated  from  Wales  to  New  England.     One  of  these 


Birth.  Name,  Early  Advantages.  15 

brothers  settled  in  Rhode  Island,  and  the  other  es- 
tablished himself  in  Connecticut.  Our  family  is  de- 
scended from  the  Connecticut  brother,  who  was 
probably  the  great  grandfather  of  Samuel,  the 
father  of  Zelotes. 

When  Zelotes  was  two  years  old  his  father  ex- 
changed his  leased  land  in  Courtright  for  thirty 
acres  in  the  town  of  Harpersfield,  "with  the  right 
of  soil."  Here  he  erected  a  log  house,  moved  his 
family  to  the  new  home,  and  commenced  the  work 
of  clearing  the  land  and  raising  a  sustenance  for 
the  increasing  household.  Prosperity  attended  them 
in  the  new  habitation,  so  that  eleven  years  after  a 
frame  house  was  erected  and  more  land  purchased 
and  added  to  the  farm.  Here  these  worthy  parents 
lived  till  God  called  them  to  "a  better  coun- 
try," and  from  this  home  went  out  two  ministers  of 
the  Gospel,  and  seven  other  children,  all  followers 
of  Christ,  to  bless  the  world.  They  are  all  now  num- 
bered with  the  dead,  but  gathered,  we  trust,  an  un- 
broken family  in  heaven. 

The  advantages  for  education  were  exceedingly 
meager  in  the  early  years  of  the  life  of  these  chil- 
dren. Reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic  were  the 
only  branches  taught  in  the  common  schools.  For 
a  number  of  years  one  quarter  during  the  year  was 
all  the    schooling   Zelotes    had.      He   could   not   be 


16  Elder  Zelotes  Guexell. 

spared  longer  from  the  farm,  yet  made  good  use  of 
the  advantages  afforded  him. 

Three  things  were  a  great  delight  to  him  from  a 
child.  One  of  these  was  "athletic  exercises,  run- 
ning, hopping,  ball-playing,  and  climbing  trees." 
Another  was  the  "reading  of  histories  and  sto- 
ries, good,  bad,  or  indifferent."  But  his  "greatest 
delight  was  in  riddles  and  story-telling,"  and  in  this 
way  he  amused  his  young  companions  during  the 
long   winter  evenings. 

Human  life  has  been  likened  to  a  river,  rising 
in  some  obscure  place  among  the  hills,  but  in- 
creasing in  volume  as  it  descends  to  the  valley 
and  plains  below,  flowing  on  with  blessings  through 
its  entire  course  till  lost  in  the  sea.  Here  is  the 
rise  of  this  river,  humble  in  its  origin,  but  destined, 
when  once  it  emerges  from  its  hidden  sources,  to 
bless  the  communities  through  which  its  waters 
shall  flow. 


II. 

CONVERSION  AND  BAPTISM. 

Conversion  is  the  turning  of  the  soul  to  God, 
the  beginning  of  a  new  spiritual  life  within  the 
soul.  The  order  is,  "first  that  which  is  natural  and 
then  that  which  is  spiritual."  Revelation  assures  us 
we  "must  be  born  again"  to  enter  the  kingdom  of 
God.  As  truly  as  the  natural  birth  introduces  us 
into  this  life,  so  the  spiritual  is  the  beginning  of  a 
new  life  and  introduces  us  into  the  kingdom  of  God. 

This  renewal  of  the  soul  is  a  Divine  work  by 
the  agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit  and  the  Word,  creat-- 
ing  it  anew  and  forming  it  after  the  image  of  God. 
But  there  are  stages  through  which  the  soul  is  led 
to  repentance  and  faith,  and  the  experience  of  this 
ncv/  life.  These  are  by  the  choice  and  use  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  in  His  work  of  deliverance  from  the 
dominion  of  sin  and  leading  the  soul  into  the  love 
and  service  of  God.  These  points  we  arc  to  notice 
in  the  history  of  the  conversion  of  this  youth. 
A  new  Christian  character  was  thus  formed,  and 
in   that   was  the    foundation   of  his   usefulness. 

The    first    conviction    of    sin    was    when    he    was 


18  POLDER  ZELUTES  GRENELL. 

eight   years    of  age.     But    this    was    transitory    and 
produced    no    pcrnianenl    result. 

When    near  fourteen   years    of  age  the    work  was 
truly    commenced    that    resulted,    under    the    power 
of  Divine    grace,   in    a    new   creature    in   Christ.     A 
girl  twelve  years  of  age   professed  the   love  of  God, 
camiC  to   the  church,    and    was  baptized    on   profes- 
sion  of  her  faith.     When    he    learned    her    age    the 
thought  came  home  to  him   with    convicting  power, 
"Here  is  a   girl   two  years  younger  than  I,  who  is 
a  Christian,  and  I  am  yet  in  my  sins."      Much  un- 
easiness of  soul  was  produced  by  this  incident,  which 
troubled  him  for  weeks.     A  little  time  after,  a  school- 
mate had  a  severe  kick  of  a  horse  on  his  head,  and 
for    a   time    his    life    was    despaired    of.     About   the 
same   time    three  Baptist  families   in  the   neighbor- 
hood began   to   hold  Sunday  evening  prayer  meet- 
ings,  alternately   at   their    several    houses.     In   one 
of  these,   the   father   of  the    injured    boy   spoke    of 
the    accident   that   had    endangered   the    life   of  his 
son,    and    addressed    his   young   companions    about 
the  uncertainty  of  life  and  the  need  of  repentance. 
This  exhortation  was  brought  home  by  the  Holy 
Spirit  to  convict  him  deeply  of  sin.     His  conviction 
became  so  deep  that  "he  saw  himself  a  vile  sinner" 
in  the  sight  of  God,  and  felt  the  need  of  salvation. 
A  VA^eek  later  the  meeting  was  at  his  father's  house, 


Conversion  and  Baptism.  19 

when  his  "distress  of  soul"  became  so  great  he 
could  keep  it  confined  within  his  breast  no  longer. 
He  arose  without  any  invitation  and  said,  "  My 
friends,  I  see  I  am  a  poor  lost  sinner,  going  down 
to  hell.  I  desire  you  to  pray  for  me."  No  disciple 
of  Christ  in  that  meeting  was  unmoved  by  such  an 
appeal  as  that.  The  tears  came  freely  to  the  eyes 
of  those  loving  Christ,  and  yet  they  rejoiced  in 
spirit  that  such  evidence  was  given  of  the  presence 
of  the  Spirit  in  their  meeting.  But  who  can  open 
and  reveal  the  heart  of  his  mother  when  she  heard 
this  expression  of  the  sorrow  of  his  soul.  She  turned 
her  head,  cast  a  look  of  love  and  pity  toward 
her  son,  and  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears.  The  meet- 
ing was  open  then,  and  "there  was  liberty."  Not 
one  disciple  was  there  in  that  company  but  had 
something  to  say.  His  elder  brother  said,  "  I  feel 
as  Jacob  did  when  he  dreamed  of  the  ladder  set 
up  on  the  earth,  the  top  of  which  reached  into  heaven, 
and  on  awaking  said,  *  The  Lord  is  in  this  place  and 
I  knew  it  not.'" 

But  no  permanent  relief  was  given  to  the  soul 
under  such  a  burden  of  sin.  His  "  grief  had  vent " 
and  the  sympathy  and  prayer  of  Christians  "allevi- 
ated the  keenness  of  his  sorrow."  In  the  meet- 
ing the  following  Sunday  evening  he  again  solic- 
ited   the    prayers    of  God's    children   in    his    behalf. 


20  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

Soon  after  this  an  indescribable  sensation  was  felt 
by  him  which  "affected  both  body  and  mind."  In 
reference  to  this  he  said,  "It  was  as  if  I  had  a 
load  on  my  back  which  instantly  slid  off  without 
hands.  My  load  of  guilt  was  gone,  the  Lord  did 
not  look  angry,  and  still  I  had  no  evidence  of 
pardon.  The  inquiry  was,  "What  does  this  mean?" 
For  the  next  four  days  Zelotes  was  in  a  state 
of  mind  between  hope  and  despair.  In  thought 
he  was  "much  confused,"  at  one  moment  a  ray 
of  hope  appearing,  and  then  nothing  but  darkness 
and  gloom.  Former  convictions  coulfl  not  be 
brought  back,  nor  was  there  any  comforting  as- 
surance of  pardon.  He  could  not  go  to  God  as  a 
condemned  sinner  feeling  the  burden  of  his  guilt, 
nor  could  he  address  Him  as  one  pardoned  and  justi- 
fied by  the  blood  of  the  cross.  •  The  burden  of  the 
soul  was  "Lord,  tell  me  where  I  am."  In  this 
state  of  anxiety  he  one  day  retired  to  a  solitary 
place  and  prayed  earnestly  that  "the  Lord  would 
show  him  his  true  condition,  and  not  suffer  him 
to  deceive  himself."  He  left  that  secret  retreat 
without  finding  any  relief  for  the  wounded  spirit. 
But  on  returning  to  the  barn  "to  prepare  the 
stable  for  the  horses  when  his  father  should  re- 
turn from  the  market,"  deeply  agitated  in  mind 
and  absorbed  in  thought  about  his   condition,   "one 


COXVEKSTOX  AM)  BAPTISM.  '21 

arm  resting  on  the  manger,  and  the  shovel  in  the 
hand  of  the  other,  it  seemed  as  if  some  one  whis- 
pered in  my  ear  '  Voi/r  sins  are  all  forgiven^  The 
hour  of  deUverance  had  come,  and  the  Hght  of 
Divine  love  shined  clearly  before  him.  All  doubts 
and  fears  were  removed.  A  flood  of  light  and 
joy  filled  the  soul.  He  was  happy  in  the  love  of 
God.     It  was  a   new  life   begun. 

In    this    experience    no    note    was  taken  of  time. 
The    ecstacy    of  soul    continued    to    bear    it    away 
from  the  thought  of  time  and  sense.     Soon  the  in- 
quiry arose,  "How  can  such  a  vile  and  guilty  sin- 
ner be    pardoned.^"    At  once  "the  eye  of  the  mind 
was  directed  to  the  cross  where  Jesus  died  for  him,  ' 
and  bore  his  sins  in  his  own  body.    With  this  view 
the  soul  was  in  a  rapture  of  joy.      It  was  lifted  onto 
a  higher    level  of  contemplation    than    before.     Not 
a  tear  had  been  shed  during  the  former  disclosure, 
but  now  the  soul  was  melted  in  tenderness,  and  his 
"eyes    were   a  fountain   of  tears;    tears  of  wonder, 
love,  and  joy  that  Jesus  should  die  for  me,  a  poor 
sinner."      It  was    the  touch  of  the  Divine    hand   in 
forming    the    soul    anew.     It    produced    a    powerful 
and  life  long  impression  upon    him.      His  testimony 
left  on  record  of  that  view    is,   "Ever  since  I  have 
believed    in    a    vicarious   atonement,   and    in    this  is 
all   my  hope." 


22  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

Here  is  a  new  life  begun.  A  creation  of  God, 
deriving  the  spring  of  its  joy  from  the  power  of 
the  cross.  *'That  which  is  born  of  the  flesh  is 
flesh,  and  that  wliich  is  born  of  the  Spirit  is  spirit." 
"We  know  that  what  God  doeth  it  shall  be  for- 
ever." This  is  a  true  conversion,  with  the  stamp  of 
the  genuine  coin  upon  it.  Ever  will  it  remain 
through  eternal  ages  a  monument  to  "the  creative 
power  of  Divine  grace." 

At  the  next  Sunday  evening  meeting  the  good 
news  of  his  deliverance  was  given.  "It  filled  all 
with  joy."'  And  here  came  the  first  cross  by  the 
suggestion  of  the  Spirit  laid  upon  the  young  con- 
vert,, "to  engage  in  vocal  prayer."  This  duty  he 
performed,  and  thus  gained  strength  and  confidence 
for  active   service. 

The  first  Saturday  in  April,  by  special  permis- 
sion of  his  parents,  he  attended  church  meeting. 
A  Mrs.  Taylor  related  her  religious  experience 
with  a  view  of  being  baptized  and  uniting  with  the 
church.  Zelotes  was  under  great  concern  of  mind, 
for  the  impression  was  forced  upon  him,  "you  must 
relate  your  experience "  when  she  gets  through 
with  hers.  He  arose  and  said,  "Come  near,  all  ye 
that  fear  God,  and  I  will  tell  you  what  He  has 
done  for  my  soul."  In  a  calm  and  clear  manner 
he    related    the    exercises     througrh     which    he   had 


Conversion  and  J3aptism.  ">'.'> 

been  led  by  the  Spirit  from  under  the  dominion 
of  sin  into  the  joy  of  redeeming  love.  He  had 
entertained  no  idea  of  connecting  himself  with 
the  people  of  God,  as  the  path  of  duty  in  that  di- 
rection had  not  been  pointed  out  to  him.  So  no  action 
was  taken  by  the  church.  He  saw  the  ordinance 
of  baptism  administered  the  following  Sunday,  and 
both  the  beauty  and  significance  of  the  rite  as  a 
profession  of  faith  in  Christ  were  plainly  perceived. 
So,  at  the  following  monthly  meeting  he  offered 
himself  for  membership,  and,  being  accepted, 
the  following  Sunday  he  was  baptized  into  the 
fellowship  of  the  Harpersfield  Baptist  Church  by 
Elder  Warner  Lake.  For  this  man  of  God  he 
ever  after  cherished  the  warmest  Christian  affec- 
tion, and  during  the  years  of  his  ministry  made 
long  journeys  to  visit  him  in  the  western  part  of  the 
State. 

An  earnest  desire  now  took  possession  of  him  to 
have  a  Bible,  "one  that  he  could  call  his  own." 
There  was  only  one  small  Bible  in  his  father's 
house,  and  a  few  leaves  of  Genesis  were  worn  off 
from   it.     It  had  to  do  service  for  the  entire  family. 

A  Bible  Society  had  been  formed  in  New  York 
City,  and  being  anxious  to  supply  the  rapidly  in- 
creasing rural  districts  with  the  Word  of  Life,  had 
established  a  small  depository  only  six   miles   from 


24  -  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

his  home.  By  solicitation  he  gained  the  permis- 
sion of  his  father  to  go  on  foot  that  distance  to 
get  one.  With  joy  of  heart  and  a  nimble  move- 
ment of  foot  he  went,  only  to  hear  the  sad  words 
"They  have  all  been  given  out."  His  emotion,  for 
the  moment,  was  too  deep  for  utterance.  Soon 
the  comforting  words  w^ere  added  to  the  former 
announcement,  "  Come  again  in  two  weeks  and  I 
will  have  a  supply  for  you."  So  at  the  appointed 
time  he  made  the  journey  again,  and  obtained 
one  for  himself  and  another  for  other  members  of 
the  household.  The  Sunday  follo'wing  he  spent  in 
reading  his  Bible.  He  went  through  the  five 
books  of  Moses.  He  was  filled  with  delight  and 
was  intensely  interested.  He  put  on  record,  con- 
cerning that  day,  the  exclamation,  "O!  what  a 
treasure!" 

One  year  after  his  baptism  he  left  the  paren- 
tal roof  and  went  to  live  with  his  brother  Chaun- 
cey,  in  Stamford,  on  a  farm  nearly  new.  In  this 
new  home  he  was  five  miles  from  the  place  of 
worship,  and  four  from  his  father's  house.  All  his 
surroundings  were  entirely  new.  The  community 
was  mostly  Scotch  Seceders.  Their  house  of  worship 
was  some  four  miles  distant  down  the  river.  True  to 
his  convictions,  he  attended  his  ov\'n  church  when 
meetings  were  held  there,  and  the   rest  of  the  time 


Conversion  and  Baptism.  25 

worshiped  with  the  Seceders  or  Methodists.  In 
these  new  associations  influences  for  ^ood  were  ex- 
erted upon  the  young  disciple.  One  family  of 
Seceders  lent  him  several  books,  which  he  read 
with  great  avidity,  and  gained  from  them  much 
knowledge  of  the  way  of  salvation.  One  of  these 
books  was  Bunyan's  Pilgrim's  Progress.  With  this 
he  was  much  delighted,  and  his  **  views  of  the  Gos- 
pel were  greatly  enlarged."  Another  book  was 
Erskine's  Gospel  Sonnets,  a  book  printed  in  Scot- 
land and  brought  with  the  family  to  the  new  world. 
This  book  was  made  a  source  of  great  good  to 
him.  He  wrote  in  relation  to  the  reading  of  it,  "I 
found  God  had  a  plan  in  his  work  of  grace.  My 
views  of  doctrine  became  fixed,  and  so  they  have 
remained." 

Here  for  over  five  years  he  resided  with  his 
brother,  and  continued  this  habit  of  reading,  reflec- 
tion, and  attendance  on  the  instructions  of  the  sanct- 
uary. During  this  time,  also,  a  gracious  revival 
of  religion  was  enjoyed  by  the  Baptist  Church  and 
about  seventy-five  were  gathered  by  the  united 
labors  of  Elders  Mack  and  Adams  into  the  fellow- 
ship of  Zion.  It  was  a  great  blessing  to  him,  as 
it  gave  him  more  opportunity  to  take  part  in  re- 
ligious meetings,  and  added  to  his  experience  of 
the    working    of  the   Spirit,    and   gave    him   greater 


26  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

stability  in  the  service.  God  was  preparing  him 
for  his  future  work,  and  the  preparation  was  being 
well  and  truly  done.  Many  of  the  impressions 
made  upon  him,  and  the  points  of  doctrine  fixed 
in  his  mind  during  these  five  years,  remained  with 
him  through  all  the  years  of  his  active  service. 


III. 

CALL   TO   THE    MTNLSTRV. 

»  Six  years  after  his  conversion,  when  twenty  years 
of  age,  a  new  train  of  ideas  began  to  impress  them- 
selves upon  the  mind  of  this  young  disciple.  Pre- 
vious to  this  "no  thought  had  ever  entered  his 
mind  of  being  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,"  but  now 
the  work  of  the  Spirit  of  God  began  to  be  mani- 
fested in  calling  him  to  be  an  ambassador  of  Christ 
to  men. 

First  in  this  process  was  the  passage  (Rev.  10:9) 
"And  he  said  unto  me,  take  it  and  eat  it  up,  and 
it  shall  make  thy  belly  bitter;  but  it  shall  be  in 
thy  mouth  sweet  as  honey."  From  day  to  day 
this  text  followed  him,  stood  like  an  armed  senti- 
nel challenging  the  youthful  disciple,  impressing 
itself  upon  his  mind,  and  causing  intense  anxiety 
of  soul  as  to  its  meaning.  It  would  not  depart 
from  him  nor  let  him  alone  either  by  night  or  by 
day. 

At  length  he  went  with  the  burden  of  his  soul 
to  his  pastor.  Elder  Adams,  and  wished  him  to 
explain  it  to  him.     He   gained  no   relief  from    the 


28  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

man  of  God.  ''Have  you  been  thinking  about  it?" 
was  the  question  put  to  the  troubled  soul.  The 
affirmative  answer  was  given,  and  the  burden  of 
the  soul  laid  open  before  the  pastor.  The  only 
answer  was,  *T  cannot  tell  you,  you  must  study  it 
out  and  find  the  solution  yourself."  So  he  returned 
to  his  daily  toil  more  deeply  burdened  in  soul 
and  anxious  to  know  the  meaning  of  the  passage 
that  troubled  him. 

Finally  it  was  -revealed  to  him,  so  that  he  saw 
clearly  the  meaning  of  the  passage  in  its  relation 
to  himself.  And  the  same  Divine  messenger  that 
sent  the  passage  of  Scripture  to  trouble  him,  gave 
the  interpretation  of  it.  It  was  presented  to  him 
in  this  way:  "That  book  is  to  you  the  Gospel,  to 
eat  it  is  to  study  and  digest  its  contents.  In  the 
mouth  it  is  sweet  as  honey;  there  is  a  delight  in 
preaching  it,  but  trials  and  adversities  attend  the 
work."  In  that  revelation  he  saw  in  prophetic  vis- 
ion what  was  realized  for  more  than  three  score 
years    in  his  life    as    a    minister  of  the    Gospel. 

Then  came  other  passages  of  the  Word  of  God, 
crowding  into  his  mind  and  producing  intense  anxie- 
ty. (Joel  2:1)  "Blow  ye  the  trumpet  in  Zion  and 
sound  an  alarm  in  my  holy  mountain"  was  one, 
and  another  one  was  (Ezek.  3:17)  "Son  of  man, 
I  have  made  thee   a  watchman   unto  the    house    of 


Call  to  the  Ministry.  29 

Israel:  therefore  hear  the  word  at  my  mouth  and 
give  them  warning  from  me."  And  with  special 
force  came  an  expression  of  (Ezok.  6:S),  "His  blood 
will  I  require  at  thine  hand."  There  was  a  power 
in  these  passages,  and  the  application  was  made 
clear  by  the  Spirit.  With  special  force,  also,  the 
following  one  was  impressed  upon  him  (Jer.  20:9): 
"Then  I  said,  I  will  not  make  mention  of  him, 
nor  speak,  any  more  in  his  name:  but  his  word 
was  in  my  heart  as  a  burning  fire  shut  up  in  my 
bones." 

He  continued  in  this  state  of  intense  anxiety, 
with  the  continual  pressure  of  these  passages  upon 
his  mind,  for  a  number  of  weeks.  At  length 
one  very  cold  evening,  after  a  hard  day's  work  in 
threshing  grain  with  a  flail,  he  "left  the  house, 
entered  the  barn,  climbed  to  the  large  beam  over 
head,  and  there,  with  head  bov\'ed  between  his 
knees,"  prayed  earnestly  and  persistently  for  deliv- 
erance. It  was  a  moment  of  intense  agitation  and 
one  of  wrestling  in  ppayer  with  God.  The  result 
was  a  victory  of  the  Spirit  of  God  and  the*  first 
submission  of  the  troubled  soul.  The  testimony 
given  by  himself  is,  "  There,  for  th^  first  time,  I 
was  willing  to  preach  the  Gospel  of  Christ  to  men." 
What  a  contrast  between  the  first  anxious  thought 
of  this   young    disciple    and    the    end    reached    that 


30  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

night  in  the  wrestling  of  the  soul.  *'  The  meaning" 
of  the  passage  that  troubled  him  was  his  thought 
then,  "a  willingness  to  preach"  the  Gospel  the 
result. 

The  next  step  was  to  relate  these  exercises  and 
impressions  of  duty  to  the  church.  It  required  a 
struggle  of  soul  to  do  this.  He  resolved  to  do  it, 
and  then  his  courage  failed  and  timidity  kept  him 
back.  But  there  was  no  relief  to  his  troubled  soul 
until  he  firmly  ventured  on  this  step.  They  lis- 
tened to  his  story,  said  but  little,  but  "gave  him  a 
verbal  liberty  to  improve  his  gifts,  anywhere 
within  the  bounds  of  the  church."  The  bounds  of 
the  church  were  quite  extensive.  From  four  to 
five  miles  from  the  house  of  worship  in  all  direc- 
tions, in  the  different  neighborhoods,  members  of 
the  church  resided.  All  these  were  included  in  the 
terms  of  the  commission,  an  ample  field  for  the 
ambition  of  one  just  entering  upon  the  work  of 
the    ministry. 

The  first  effort  to  preach  was  made  in  Middle- 
brook  in  the  north  part  of  the  town.  The  text 
selected  was  an  excellent  one  (Titus  3:5):  "Not 
by  works  of  righteousness  which  we  have  done,  but 
according  to  His  mercy  He  saved  us,  by  the  wash- 
ing of  regeneration  and  the  renewing  of  the  Holy 
Spirit."     The    pastor   went  four   miles   to   hear  this 


Call  to  the  Ministry.  31 

first  effort,  and  was  the  cause  of  no  little  embar- 
rassment to  the  young  licentiate.  The  thought  of 
standing  before  an  audience  to  preach  produced 
no  little  trouble  to  his  mind,  and  almost  overcame 
him.  But  the  effort  was  made  as  best  he  could 
do  under  the  circumstances.  No  instruction  had 
been  given  him  by  pastor  or  any  one  else,  about 
the  necessity  of  study  and  preparation  to  deliver 
a  religious  discourse.  His  thought  was,  *'  If  God 
calls  any  one  to  preach  He  will  give  him  a  text 
and  tell  him  what  to  say."  We  have  no  means  of 
knowing  what  impression  was  produced  by  this  ef- 
fort  upon  the  people.  He  was  not  at  all  satisfied 
with  it,  and  "concluded  he  had  mistaken  his  call- 
ing." But  other  appointments  were  made  for  him 
to  preach,  and  other  efforts  were  put  forth  to 
"improve  his  gifts."  In  some  of  these  he  had 
great  liberty  and  freedom  of  utterance,  and  be- 
came greatly  encouraged  and  full  of  enthusiasm  in 
the  work.  In  other  instances  his  way  seemed  to 
be  hedged  up,  and  discouraging  thoughts  pressed 
heavily   upon  him. 

For  more  than  a  year  he  continued  these  efforts 
of  preaching  in  the  different  neighborhoods  "  with-  ' 
in  the  bounds  of  the  church,"  and  with  widely  dif- 
ferent results    in    his   experience.      "My    mind     was 
perpetually  changin;^,"  he  wrote,  "from  the  mo3t  ele- 


32  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

vated  hopes  to  the  most  distressing  fears."  He 
further  adds,  "  I  could  not  get  rid  of  the  impression 
that  I  must  preach."  And  during  all  this  time  of 
elevating  hopes  and  distressing  fears  he  had  "no 
idea  of  studying  a  sermon  or  selecting  a  text  be- 
forehand, or  of  making  any  other  preparation  than 
prayer,  reading  the  Bible  and  religious  books." 
How  much  he  needed  the  advice  of  some  father 
in  the  ministry,  or  the  sympathy  and  aid  of  a  pas- 
tor to  put  him  on  the  right  track,  encourage  him 
in  the  work  and  teach  him  the  use  of  all  his  pow- 
ers in  preparation,  and  then  to  rely  on  the  Spirit 
of  God.  It  was  a  hard  and  severe  experience,  but 
under  the  blessing  of  the  Spirit  he  endured,  and 
was  led  to  continue  his  efforts. 

In  relation  to  the  opinion  of  the  members  of 
the  church  in  reference  to  these  early  efforts,  he 
made  the  record  in  after  years,  when  he  visited 
his  parents  and  preached  to  the  people  that  had 
licensed  him,  ''They  thought  that  I  would  never 
make   a  preacher,   but   now   they   were   satisfied." 


IV. 

SETTLEMENT  IN  THE  MINISTRY. 

By  a  chain  of  events  under  the  immediate  control 
of  God,  the  way  was  opened  for  this  young  preach- 
er to  enter  the  great  harvest  field.  He  was  led  in 
a  way  he  knew  not,  for  no  higher  aim  had  pos- 
sessed his  mind  than  a  life  of  toil  to  sustain  himself, 
and  preaching  in  the  destitute  places  near  his  home. 
The  same  Spirit  that  had  called  him  to  preach  had 
a  field  ready  for  him,  and  in  due  time  he  discerned 
the  hand  of  God  in  the  change  of  all  his  former 
plans  for  life. 

In  the  fall  of  1817  he  went  with  his  brother 
Chauncey  to  Masonville,  in  search  of  leased  land 
to  take  up  for  a  future  home.  During  this  journey 
he  engaged  to  teach  school  in  Danby,  near  Ithaca, 
for  three  and  a  half  months  during  the  winter.  In 
this  new  occupation  he  had  more  time  for  reading 
and  reflection,  and  usually  preached  every  Lord's 
day.  He  supplied  either  Danby,  Windfall,  or  Spen- 
cer with  the  Word  of  Life.  During  the  month  of 
February,  Squire  Mead,  of  Orange  County,  was  intro- 
duced to  him  by    Mr.   Banfield,    who    resided  some 


34  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

two  miles  from  the  school  house.  The  request  was 
made  for  the  teacher  to  preach  the  following  even- 
ing at  Mr.  Banfieid's  house.  The  request  was  com- 
plied with,  and  the  text  selected  was  (Psalm  65:4) 
''Blessed  is  the  man  whom  thou  choosest  and  causest 
to  approach  unto  thee,  that  he  may  dwell  in 
thy  courts."  Squire  Mead  had  been  on  a  visiting 
tour,  was  delayed  by  a  severe  storm  and  compelled 
to  remain  a  few  days  beyond  his  expectation.  By 
this  means  he  saw  and  heard  the  "boy  preacher," 
as  many  called  him.  After  the  sermon,  Mr.  Mead 
related  to  him  the  destitute  condition  of  the  church 
to  which  he  belonged  in  north  New  Jersey,  and 
their  desire  to  settle  a  young  man.  As  a  result  of 
this  interview,  the  promise  was  given:  ''Write  to  me 
at  Masonville,  in  the  spring,  by  wish  of  the  church, 
and  I  will  answer." 

After  closing  his  school,  he  returned  to  Mason- 
ville to  make  a  beginning  on  the  land  located  the 
fall  before.  "He  commenced  chopping  for  a  small 
crop,"  and  had  toiled  at  it  for  two  weeks,  when  an 
urgent  letter  came  requesting  him  to  visit  the  church 
of  Second  Wantage,  New  Jersey.  This  entirely  rev- 
olutionized all  his  plans  of  farming.  The  newly 
selected  farm  was  given  up  and  a  letter  written 
that  he  would  visit  them,  and  they  might  expect 
him  in    April.     He    made    a   journey   to    Danby   to 


Settlkmext  in  the  Mixistry.  35 

collect  tuition  due  him,  paid  a  visit  to  his  old  home 
in  Harpersfield,  and  then  with  all  his  earthly  sub- 
stance tied  in  a  cotton  handkerchief  started  on  foot 
for  his  field  of  labor.  His  journey  was  "through 
Lexington,  West  Kill,  south  through  a  notch  in  the 
mountain,  no  house,  no  road,  all  forest,  seven  miles 
to  Esopus  Creek,  thence  across  the  hill  to  Kingston, 
thence  to  Wurtsborough,  across  to  Finchville  and 
thence  to  Greenville,  and  arrived  at  Ebei^ezer  Mead's, 
April  the  20th,  about  sun  down,  found  good  friends 
and  glad  to  see  me."  He  had  occupied  ten  days 
in  the  journey.  *■ 

Some  of  the  incidents  of  this  journey  were  never 
forgotten  by  him,  and  often  were  they  subjects 
for  conversation  and  comment  in  after  years.  On 
the  way  he  preached  several  times,  formed  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Elder  Petit  at  Lexington,  and  of  the 
eccentric  Elder  Van  Velsen  at  Esopus.  On  this  jour- 
ney and  just  before  the  time  of  preaching,  he  had 
to  ford  a  stream,  and  as  the  water  was  very  high 
and  the  current  rapid,  came  near  being  drowned  ; 
he  took  a  severe  cold  as  he  tresult  of  his  Sunday 
morning  baptism,  and  was  quite  ill  on  Monday,  but 
pressed  on,  and  came  to  the  end  of  his  journey  in 
good  health  and  full  of  gratitude  to  God  for  the 
many  mercies  that  had  attended  him.  Here  he  was 
far  away  from  all  his  relatives  and  former  associates, 


36  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

in  a  strange  land,  and  yet  where  he  was  to  begin 
his  life  work  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel. 

The  field  opened  to  him  by  the  hand  of  God 
was  ample  in  extent  for  any  aspirant  to  the  work. 
It  reached  from  the  Delaware  Mountain,  or  Blue 
Ridge,  to  the  Wallkill,  eight  miles  in  width  from 
west  to  east.  It  was  eighteen  miles  long  from 
north  to  south,  about  one-fourth  of  it  in  Minisink, 
Orange  County,  New  York,  and  three-fourths  in 
Wantage,  Sussex  County,  New  Jersey.  It  is  a  mag- 
nificent country  to  the  eye  in  summer,  of  great 
variety  of  surface,  and,  like  the  hill  country  of  Judea, 
under  the  smile  of  heaven. 

The  Second  Wantage  Church  had  been  organized 
about  twenty  years  before,  and  had  a  member- 
ship of  about  one  hundred  and  thirty.  Its  growth 
had  been  to  the  north,  and  many  of  the  members 
lived  a  long  distance  from  the  center  or  place  of 
worship.  At  Beemerville  a  log  meeting  house  had 
been  erected  as  a  free  church,  and  was  occupied 
by  the  Baptists  every  third  Sunday.  This  was  one 
of  the  preaching  stations,  and  the  second  was  at 
Meadville,  about  ten  miles  north.  There  a  frame 
had  been  erected,  with  roof  and  siding  on,  but 
''  without  windows,  door,  or  floor."  This  was  occu- 
pied one  third  of  the  time.  The  third  preaching 
station  was  in  the   "  Elston  neighborhood,   near  the 


SETTLEMKXT  IX  THE  MINISTRY.  3t 

bog  meadows,"  at  a  private  house.  To  these  were 
added  about  half  a  dozen  school  houses,  located  on 
different  sections  of  the  field.  He  commenced  the 
work  covering  the  entire  ground  with  a  home  wher- 
ever night  overtook  him,  passing  from  one  neighbor- 
hood to  another,  welcomed  cheerfully  by  his  parish- 
ioners at  any  and  all  times,  and  usually  preaching 
four  or   five   sermons  each  week. 

At  the  commencement  of  this  service  no  stipulated 
salary  was  promised.  He  lived  with  and  among  the 
people  and,  so  far  as  we  can  learn,  every  want  of  the 
young  itinerant  was  supplied.  He  at  once  endeared 
himself  to  them  by  his  earnestness  and  zeal  in  his 
work.  He  was  ready  to  communicate  the  truth, 
abundant  in  labor,  and  eminently  social  and  pleas- 
ing in  his  intercourse  with  the  people.  In  a  remark- 
able degree  he  was  at  home  and  happy  in  his  work. 

Up  to  this  time  he  had  received  no  formal  license 
to  preach,  only  the  verbal  one  given  by  the  church 
that  had  received  him  by  baptism.  The  church 
of  Second  Wantage  called  a  council  of  brethren 
from  Brookfield  and  First  Wantage,  and  advised 
with  them  about  fully  licensing  the  young  preacher 
that  had  come  at  their  invitation  to  labor  with 
them.  The  result  was  a  full  and  formal  license  to 
preach  the  Gospel,  granted  by  the  church  and  en- 
dorsed by  the  council. 


38  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

On  this  entire  field,  he  labored  as  the  pastor  of 
First  Wantage  four  years  and  six  months.  Then 
a  new  one  was  organized  called  the  Orange  Church, 
and  a  meeting  house  erected  one  and  a  half  miles 
east  of  Unionville,  near  the  Wallkill.  The  mother 
church  supplied  most  of  the  material  for  the  new 
organization,  and  the  Elder  accepted  the  unanimous 
call  to  be  their  pastor.  He  then  relinquished  the 
field  about  Beemerville,  but  Mt.  Salem  and  vicinity- 
were  included  in  his  parish.  This  relation  continued 
eleven  years,  until  the  fall  of  1833.  It  was  one  of 
mutual  blessing,  and  owned  by  the  Head  of  the 
Church   as   the   means  of  great   good. 

A  few  trials  were  encountered  in  the  early  part 
of  his  ministry  on  this  field.  Three  unemployed 
preachers,  very  desirous  of  officiating,  but  not  ac- 
ceptable to  the  people,  though  formerly  jealous  of 
each  other,  became  one  in  opposition  to  the  boy 
preacher.  One  of  them,  an  old  man  in  the  min- 
istry, sent  a  request  to  him  to  preach  from  the 
text,  "Tarry  in  Jericho  till  your  beard  be  grown." 
He  very  properly  returned  the  answer,  '*  I  will,  if 
you  will  preach  from  the  text  *  Let  no  man  de- 
spise thy   youth.' " 

Another  trial  encountered  was,  one  of  the  old 
pastors  took  a  dislike  to  him,  and,  in  various  wa}'s, 
tried  to    hinder    his    gaining   in    in6Aience    with    the 


Settlement  in  the  Ministry.  39 

people.  He  thought  him  not  sound  at  heart,  and  "at- 
tributed his  boldness,  zeal,  and  fearlessness  to  mere 
natural  talent,  without  piety."  So,  when  the  first 
council  for  examination  was  called.  Elder  Lathrop 
controlled  the  matter  and  led  them  to  decide 
against  the  ordination.  He  addressed  him  in  pres- 
ence of  the  council  with  the  contemptuous  lan- 
guage, *'  Come  around  here  where  I  may  look  you 
in  the  face,  while  God  looks  you  in  the  heart." 
And  at  a  missionary  meeting,  when  he  and  another 
brother  were  appointed  to  preach,  Elder  Lathrop 
arose  from  his  seat  in  front  of  the  pulpit, 
when  Elder  Grenell  was  in  the  middle  of  his  dis- 
course, and  said,  in  a  stern  tone  of  voice,  "  Young 
man,  you  are  wrong."  The  "young  man  sat  down 
as  though  shot,"  and  the  brother  appointed  to  fol- 
low, went  on  with  the  meeting.  Hard  usage  this, 
and  unbecoming  in  a  minister  of  the  Gospel !  To 
the  young  preacher  it  was  "among  the  all  things 
that  worked  together  for  his  good."  It  tended  to 
draw  the  sympathy  of  the  people  tow^ard  him,  and 
bound  his  church  more  closely  to  their  leader. 

It  is  eminently  proper  to  add  here  that  a  few 
years  later  the  opinion  of  Elder  Lathrop  was 
entirely  changed,  and  thenceforth  the  warmest 
friendship  existed  between  him  and  Elder  Grenell. 
This    result    was    reached    in  this    manner  :     Elder 


40  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

Grenell  had  been  invited  to  Warwick  to  preach 
and  baptize  on  a  week  day.  This  was  Elder 
Lathrop's  old  field,  which  he  had  left  in  1819  to 
settle  W'ith  the  Samptown  Church,  near  Plainfield, 
New  Jersey.  As  Elder  Grenell  announced  his  text 
and  commenced  his  sermon,  the  venerable  Elder 
entered  the  house.  He  was  on  a  visit  to  his  old 
field.  He  listened  to  the  sermon,  from  the  text 
"  A  peculiar  people,"  very  attentively.  The  preacher 
was  "  not  afraid  of  him  now,"  as  he  had  been 
years  before.  He  preached  with  great  freedom, 
and  with  more  than  ordinary  power,  as  though 
having  an  unction  from  above.  At  the  close  of 
his  discourse  he  invited  Elder  Lathrop  to  pray. 
He  arose  and  began  to  commend  the  sermon  in 
the  strongest  terms,  and  declared  "no  man  could 
preach  such  a  sermon  unless   sent  of  God." 

In  August,  1819,  a  larger  council  than  the  former 
one  was  called,  and  "with  one  voice"  voted  to 
set  apart  the  young  licentiate  to  the  work  of  the 
Gospel  ministry.  The  meeting  was  held  in  a  grove 
adjoining  the  frame  building  at  Meadville,  Orange 
County,  New  York.  A  large  audience  was  in  at- 
tendance, and  the  exercises  were  solemn  and  impres- 
sive. The  following  churches  of  the  Warwick 
Baptist  Association  were  represented  by  their  mes- 
sengers  in  the   council,  viz.:     First  Wantage,  Ham- 


SkTTLEMEXT  in  TilK  MINISTRY.  41 

burgh,  Brookfield,  Lattintown,  Decrpark,  and  Mid- 
dletown.  "A  large  lumber  wagon  was  drawn  into 
the  middle  of  the  grove,  and  served  as  a  pulpit. 
It  was  capacious  enough  to  contain  all  the 
ministers  present."  The  ordination  sermon  was 
preached  by  Aaron  Perkins,  from  Acts  13:1,  "As 
they  fasted  and  prayed,  the  Holy  Spirit  said,  sep- 
arate me  Barnabas  and  Saul  unto  the  work  where- 
unto  I  have  called  them."  Henry  Ball  offered  the 
ordaining  prayer.  Thomas  Teasdel,  Senior,  gave 
the  hand  of  fellowship,  and  Levi  Hall  gave  the 
charge.  In  reference  to  this  day  he  wrote:  "  This 
was  a  solemn  day.  I  was  then  twenty-three 
years  and  four  months  old."  He  also  put  on  rec- 
ord the  entire  stock  in  hand,  from  which  he 
could  draw  to  prepare  his  sermon:  "A  Bible, 
Hymn  Book,  Pocket  Concordance,  Erskinc's  Gos- 
pel Sonnets,  Brown's  Bible  Dictionary,  a  grammar, 
and  Walker's  Dictionary  constituted  my  whole 
library."  And  yet  it  is  but  just  to  add,  he  was 
far  in  advance  of  the  people  to  whom  he  min- 
istered, both  in  general  intelligence  and  in  Bible 
knowledge.  At  the  same  time,  in  endowments  for 
his  work,  and  in  the  use  made  of  what  material  he 
had,  he  was  the  equal  of  the  ministry  of  his  time. 
Soon  came  the  seal  of  the  Spirit  on  the  labors 
of  the   new  minister.     This    was   a   source   of  great 


42  Elder  Zelotes  Grexell. 

encouragement  to  both  pastor  and  people,  and 
showed  clearly  that  the  work  of  men  in  ordaining 
him  was  recognized  in  heaven.  A  gracious  out- 
pouring of  the  Spirit  was  enjoyed,  and  soon  he 
was  leading  converts  into  the  baptismal  waters. 
Within  six  months,  eighteen  were  welcomed  into 
the  fellowship  of  the  church,  "beside  a  few  at 
Middletown."  And  then,  in  the  early  part  of  1821, 
another  precious  revival  followed,  in  which  forty- 
five  were  added  to  them  by  baptism.  At  the  close 
of  that  year  he  made  the  record  with  thankfulness 
of  heart  to  God,  "  1  have,  baptized  seventy-eighty 
all  but  twelve  of  them  into  my  own  church." 
The  seed  that  had  been  sown  broadcast  over 
this  wide  field  yielded  an  abundant  harvest,  and 
he  was  permitted  also  to  gather  in  the  sheaves. 
Among  the  fruits  of  this  revival  was  John  M.  Car- 
penter, then  a  boy,  but,  for  many  years  since,  a 
minister  of  the  Gospel,  and  of  the  same  house- 
hold of  faith. 

Joys  and  sorrows  were  mingled  in  the  cup  of  this 
young  watchman  on  the  wall.  In  January,  1820,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Abigail  Osborn,  in  North  Har- 
persfield,  Delaware  County,  New  York.  "  He  had 
been  acquainted  with  her  seven  years,  and  inti- 
mately so  for  three  years."  January  i,  1821,  a  son 
was  born  to  them,  "A  New  Year's  present  from  the 


Settlement  in  the  Ministry.  43 

Lord,"  they  said,  and  unitedly  prayed  that  he 
might  live  to  be  a  blessing  to  his  parents,  the  church, 
and  the  world.  October  2,  1822,  a  daughter  was 
born,  bringing  with  her  advent  the  sunshine  of  joy 
into  the  household.  But  soon  the  cloud  of  ad- 
versity settled  over  this  happy  home.  The  youth- 
ful wife  and  loving  mother  of  these  two  children  was 
taken  with  a  fever,  and  on  the  i6th  of  October*  died 
in  hope  of  a  blessed  immortality.  Her  parents, 
and  his,  also,  had  come  to  visit  and  rejoice  with 
them,  but  only  to  have  their  joy  turned  into 
mourning.  To  her  mother  she  gave  the  infant 
daughter  to  rear  as  her  own,  and  left  her  only  son 
without  a  mother,  her  husband  heart  broken,  her 
home  desolate. 

The  family  was  now  broken  up,  and  the  young 
pastor  ''left  in  a  lonely  condition,"  the  wife  of  his 
youth  sleeping  in  the  grave,  his  son  cared  for  by 
Deacon  Rosencrans  and  wife,  his  daughter  taken  far 
away  to  the  home  of  her  grandparents,  and  him- 
self a  boarder.  In  this  lonely  condition  God  sus- 
tained him  by  His  grace,  and  enabled  him  to  con- 
tinue his  work. 

With  the  new  house  at  Orange  as  a  center  of 
worship,  his  field  was  lessened  in  extent  of  terri- 
tory. He  devoted  his  time  now  to  the  northern 
portion  of  the  original   field.     It  was,   however,  the 


44  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

continuation  of  labor  with  the  same  people,  in  a 
new  center  of  worship,  for  the  mother  church  con- 
tributed one  hundred  members  of  the  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  of  which  the  Orange  interest  was 
composed.  When  he  accepted  the  call  to  this 
society,  it  was  with  a  stipulated  salary  of  $250 
a  year.  This  is  the  first  information  left  on  record  of 
any  agreement  between  him  and  his  people  as  to  the 
amount  of  remuneration  allowed  him. 

For  a  time  there  seemed  to  be  a  great  dearth  of 
religion  on  this  new  field.  In  a  record  of  this 
time  he  says,  "religion  was  low,"  and  the  pastor 
"burdened  in  heart  for  souls."  But  the  blessing 
was  not  long  delayed.  "When  Zion  travails  she 
shall  bring  forth."  The  time  of  awakening  came 
at  length,  and  three  precious  revivals  were  enjoyed, 
which,  taken  together,  covered  the  entire  territory 
of  the  church,  and  brought  many  into  the  enjoy- 
ment of  a  new  life  in  Christ.  During  the  first  of 
these,  fi-uit  was  gathered  from  the  northern  section 
of  the  field.  The  second  one  was  more  extensive 
in  power  and  blessing,  but  extending  in  the  op- 
posite direction,  south  and  southwest.  "It  con- 
tinued for  four  months,  right  in  the  dead  of 
winter."  In  the  former  of  these,  twenty- five  were 
baptized,  and  in  the  following  one  the  number  was 
about    sixty.     And  then    another  shower    followed, 


Settlement  in  the  Ministry.  45 

with  blessings  upon  Mt.  Salem  and  vicinity. 
"The  three,"  he  testified,  "completely  covered  the 
whole   region   which   the   church   then   occupied." 

The  seasons  of  refreshing  were  rich  in  the 
blessings  shed  upon  the  Orange  Church.  The 
additions  made  to  the  number,  to  the  talents  and 
working  force  of  the  society,  were  excellent.  The 
increase  of  the  moral  power  in  the  community 
was  marked,  and  the  pecuniary  ability  gained  was 
great  for  the  time.  There  continued  to  be  per- 
manent influences  extending  their  spiritual  forces, 
causing  a  gradual  growth  in  power  for  good.  Unlike 
many  modern  revivals,  these  were  genuine  fruits 
of  the  Spirit  and  Word  of  God,  and  gathered 
much  of  the  wheat  and  but  little  chaff  into  the 
church. 

Another  timely  enterprise  effected  by  the  energy 
and  personal  effort  of  Elder  Grenell,  was  the  erec- 
tion of  a  house  of  worship  at  Mt.  Salem.  The 
frame  building  at  Meadville  was  taken  down,  some- 
what changed  in  dimensions,  and  rebuilt  on  the 
eminence  not  yet  named.  It  was  to  be,  as  before, 
the  property  of  the  Orange  Church.  This  work 
was  speedily  performed,  and  the  entire  amount  re- 
quired raised.  It  still  stands  near  the  village  of 
Mt.  Salem,  an  old  and  dilapidated  house,  whither 
the  tribe",  no  ^oiiger  go  up  to   worship. 


46  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

After  the  erection  of  this  house  the  question 
was  asked,  "What  shall  we  call  it?"  No  name 
had  been  given  to  the  place,  and  how  should  they 
designate  the  house  erected  ?  The  genius  of  Elder 
Grenell  was  ready.  He  said,  "Call  it  Mt.  Salem. 
It  is  on  a  mountain,  and  Salem  means  peace."  So 
by  common  consent  this  name  was  given,  and  has 
remained  to  the  present  time.  To  the  first  pastor 
belongs  this  honor  of  giving  the  name  Mt.  Salem 
to  the  edifice  and  also  the  village  near. 

In  October,  1833,  he  resigned  the  charge  of  the 
Orange  Church.  It  was  a  sorrowful  parting,  both 
to  himself  and  the  people  so  greatly  attached  to 
him.  It  was  well  called  "a  tearing  away  from 
those  that  loved  him."  The  record  stands,  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty-six  baptized,  three  thousand  one 
hundred  and  seventy-one  sermons  preached,  two 
meeting  houses  erected  and  paid  for,  and  not  a 
family  disaffected  and  desiring  a  change  of  pastor. 
At  the  call  of  duty,  as  he  thought,  and  at  the 
height  of  his  popularity,  he  turned  his  steps  toward 
Paterson,  New  Jersey,  whither  we  will  follow  him. 


V. 

THE  OLD  SCHOOL  CONTROVERSY. 

During  the  years  1826  to  1833,  occurred  the  con- 
troversy known  as  the  Old  School  Division.  It 
made  fearful  work  in  the  Warwick  Association, 
and  was  a  fruitful  cause  of  discord  and  disunion 
among  the  churches.  "Effort"  and  "Anti-Effort" 
were  the  distinctive  names  of  the  two  parties  in 
the  South  and  West.  Also  "Hardshell"  and  "Mis- 
sionary Baptists"  were  common  appellatives  in 
some  sections  of  the  country. 

It  is  quite  difficult  to  give  an  accurate  account 
of  this  conflict  now,  since  so  long  a  time  has  elapsed, 
and  the  men  then  in  active  service  have  all  passed 
away.  And  yet  it  is  necessary  to  refer  to  this 
subject  because  the  conflict  in  this  section  arose 
and  was  carried  on  during  the  time  of  his  ministry, 
and  he  was  one  of  the  actors  in  the  contest.  The 
record  of  his  labors  would  not  be  complete  with- 
out this  notice. 

It  is  exceedingly  doubtful  to  the  writer  whether 
Elder  Zelotes  Grenell  ever  performed  a  better  serv- 
ice for   the    denomination    to    which    he    belonged, 


48  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

or  honored  his  Master  more  than  during-  this  try- 
ing- period  of  his  ministry.  The  contest  was  a 
fierce  one,  with  earnest  men  on  either  side,  and 
each  determined  to  gain  the  day.  It  was  a  hand 
to  hand  conflict  in  argument  —  a  contending  for  the 
faith  once  for  all  delivered  to  the  saints.  It 
required  a  clear  conception  of  the  meaning  and 
scope  of  the  commission  given  by  Christ  to  his 
disciples,  a  strong  and  controlling  conviction  of 
obligation  under  it,  as  well  as  a  manly  courage  to 
stand  up  in  defense  of  the  benevolent  agencies  of 
the  church,  and  advocate  the  consecration  of  ma- 
terial substance  for  the  extension  of  the  Gospel. 

Elder  Gilbert  Beebe  was  the  leader  and  cham- 
pion on  the  Old  School  side,  and  Elder  Grenell 
was  the  advocate  and  defender  of  the  New 
School  or  Missionary  side.  Elder  Beebe  was  a 
man  of  rare  natural  endowments,  and  of  command- 
ing appearance  and  manner.  He  was  licensed  by 
the  Samptown  Baptist  Church,  April  2,  1823,  Elder 
Lebbeus  Lathrop  then  pastor.  He  was  ordained 
at  Ramapo  about  the  year  1824,  or  the  following 
year,  and  Elder  Grenell  preached  his  ordination 
sermon.  On  the  death  of  Elder  Montanye,  Sen.ior 
pastor  at  Deerpark  —  afterward  changed  to  New 
Vernon  —  he  became  his  successor.  At  once  he 
took     a     decided     stand     against     the     missionary 


The  Old  School  Controversy.  49 

effort  already  inaugurated  in  the  association,  and 
openly  espoused  the  so-called  Old  School  cause. 
He  became  the  publisher  of  '*The  Signs  of  the 
Times,"  the  organ  of  the  Old  School  party,  and 
one  highly  esteemed  by  his  people  during  all  the 
years  of  his  public  ministry.  He  was  a  few  years 
younger  than  Elder  Grenell,  and  died  some  two 
or  three  years  before  him. 

These  two  men  were  in  location  only  eighteen 
miles  apart.  They  often  met  in  religious  gather- 
ings, and  each  esteemed  the  other  highly  as  a 
minister  of  Christ.  In  doctrine  they  agreed,  each 
in  his  preaching  exalting  the  Divine  sovereignty 
in  renewing  the  soul  and  creating  a  new  creature  in 
Christ.  Both  were  Hyper-Calvinistic  in  their  views 
of  the  atonement,  and  they  alike  exalted  the 
Divine  side  in  their  preaching.  Nor  did  they 
differ  as  to  the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel,  or 
order  of  the  house  of  the  Lord.  The  points  of  dif- 
ference were  on  human  responsibility,  on  the  mis- 
sionary work,  and  other  benevolent  organizations 
of  the  time.  Elder  Beebe  openly  opposed  all 
these  organizations  and  religious  agencies  —  the 
Missionary,  Tract,  Temperance,  and  Bible  Societies. 
Elder  Grenell  took  the  field  as  an  advocate  of  them 
all,  and  threw  himself  into  the  work  of  extending  the 
religion    of    Christ,    an  J    defeating    the    powers    of 


50  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

darkness  by  these  agencies.  The  former  regarded 
them  all  as  worldly  inventions,  without  any  war- 
rant from  the  Word  of  God,  and  the  latter  advocated 
them  as  the  proper  agencies  of  an  evangelical  re- 
ligion, and  demanded  by  the  Head  of  the  Church. 
It  ought  to  be  clearly  stated  in  this  part  of  our 
labor  that,  previous  to  the  year  1826,  the  War- 
wick Association  was  a  united  body  on  the  sub- 
ject of  missionary  effort.  It  indorsed  the  work 
of  Judson  in  Burma,  took  a  collection  for  Home 
Missions,  and  arranged  for  the  supply  of  destitute 
churches.  It  is  even  clear  that  missionary  meet- 
ings were  held,  and,  so  far  as  the  records  show, 
there  was  no  division  in  reference  to  the  question. 
Points  of  difference  in  view  arose  from  time  to 
time,  each  being  the  subject  of  debate,  and  caus- 
ing ministers  and  members  to  take  sides  for  or 
against  the  measure.  The  first  was  in  reference 
to  the  report  of  a  committee  appointed  by  the 
association  on  the  subject  of  missions.  Owing  to 
difference  of  opinion  the  report  never  was  presented. 
Then  in  a  council  for  ordination  the  candidate 
openly  affirmed  that  it  was  not  his  duty  to  preach 
to  sinners,  but  only  to  feed  the  sheep.  Then  other 
points  of  debate  arose,  and  the  conflict  went  on 
until  the  separation  was  complete,  and  all  had 
taken    sides    with    either   the    Old    School    or    the 


The  Old  School  Controversy.  51 

Missionary  side  of  the  question.  But  there  were 
no  such  names  as  Old  and  New  School  before. 
The  minutes  of  the  Warwick  Association,  in  1822, 
say:  "The  Warwick  Baptist  Association."  The 
letters  "O.  S."  were  inserted  in  the  title  after  some 
churches  had  withdrawn,  and  the  body  had  be- 
come Old  School. 

In  reference  to  their  relations  the  one  to  the  other, 
Elder  Grenell,  a  few  years  before  his  death,  left 
on  record  the  following:  "We  were  very  inti- 
mate for  years,  traveled,  slept,  preached  together, 
and  argued  for  weeks.  We  differed  very  little  at 
first,  but  the  lines  were  not  parallel,  and  hence  be- 
came farther  apart.  He  denied  moral  obligation, 
and  was  anti-mission.  We  parted.  He  wrote  a 
long  letter  of  reasons  of  opposition,  and  I  as  long 
in   defense." 

The  only  authentic  records  that  I  have  been  able 
to  lay  hold  of  are  these  two  letters,  the  former 
written  by  Elder  Beebe  and  the  latter  by  Elder 
Grenell ;  the  first  one  in  opposition  to  missionary 
effort,  and  the  second  in  defense  of  it.  These  let- 
ters are  models  of  correspondence,  remarkably  well 
written,  clear  and  decided  in  expression,  and  fra- 
ternal in  spirit,  but  decidedly  opposed  one  to  the 
other  in  reference  to  missionary  operations.  Their 
length,   and  the  aim  in  this  chapter,  preclude  their 


52  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

presentation  in  full  here,  but  they  will  be  found  in 
the  Appendix  as  a  contribution  to  the  history  of 
that  crisis  of  our  denomination.  Extracts  sufficient 
to  show  the  view  of  each,  and  clearly  present  the 
work  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  all  that  the 
writer  deems  proper  in  this  place. 

It  appears  a  society  had  been  formed,  called  the 
*' Orange  County  Baptist  Society,"  missionary  in 
character,  and  composed  of  voluntary  members  by 
the  payment  of  a  certain  initiation  fee.  This  society 
had  addressed  letters  to  ministers  and  churches, 
asking  for  contributions  for  the  extension  of  the  Gos- 
pel. In  answer  to  this.  Elder  Beebe  took  issue, 
refused  co-operation,  and  openly  opposed  the  society 
and  its  work.  He  heard  Elder  Grenell  was 
erieved  at  the  action  of  his  church  and  himself, 
and  so  wrote  a  letter  to  him.  His  letter  bears 
the  date,  December  27,  1830,  and  the  answer  of 
Elder  Grenell  is  dated  March  22,  183 1.  Extracts 
from   Elder  Beebe's  letter : 

"I  confess  I  have  never  had  any  fellowship  for 
any  of  the  popular  institutions  of  the  day."  "^  *  "* 
*'I  disfellowship  the  Orange  County  Baptist  Sociey, 
as  such,  because  it  is,  in  my  opinion,  without  example 
or  precept  in  the  Bible."  -  -^  -  "Because  the  same 
honors  are  ascribed  to  similar  institutions  that 
Aaron  ascribed  to  the    golden  calf,  viz.:     '  These  be 


The  Old  School  Controversy.  53 

tJiy  Gods  which  brought  tJwc  out  of  the  laud  of 
^SyP^-'  *  '"  *  "lam  conscientiously  opposed  to 
the  society  in  question."  ^  '^  '^  ''I  consider  you 
in  an  error  in  this  particular,  and  pray  earnestly 
that  the  Lord  may  bring  you  out  and  make  you 
shine  brighter  than  ever." 
Extracts  from  Elder  Grenell's  letter: 
"I  am  truly  sorry  that  you  have  been  so  much 
mistaken  in  regard  to  my  sentiments,  and  that  I 
was  equally  as  much  so  in  yours.  I  did  not  then 
know  that,  among  all  the  lovers  of  Christ,  there 
could  be  an  anti-missionary."  ^  ^  -^^  "You  will  prob- 
ably recollect  that,  a  short  time  after  your  ordina- 
ation,  we  attended  the  Hudson  River  Association. 
A  collection  was  made  for  Domestic  Missions. 
You  and  I  sat  in  one  seat.  We  each  contributed 
our  mite  for  that  purpose.  This  was  sufficient 
to  convmce  you  that  I  was  in  favor  of  the  object, 
and  I  thought  I  might  draw  the  same  touching 
you.  If  you  then  built  up  the  things  which  you 
destroy  you  make  yourself  a  transgressor."  "^  -  - 
**I  know  of  only  four  Baptist  ministers  on  earth 
who  are  anti-missionary,  and  three  of  them  live  in 
one  church."  "^  "^  ^^  "Two  witnesses  are  all  that  are 
necessary  to  establish  one  point.  When  I  see  a 
man  bring  fourteen  witnesses  into  court,  all  to 
prove    one    thing,   I  begin  to  think   he  is  conscious 


54  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

that  his  witnesses  are  not  of  the  best  kind,  and 
that  he  wishes  to  make  up  in  number  and  bulk 
what  is  lacking  in  weight."  -^  -  ^  ''The  very  quarter 
from  whence  the  opposition  proceeds  is  an  incon- 
testable witness  that  it  is  from  heaven.  Whatever 
the  Devil,  and  the  Pope,  and  infidels  of  every 
grade  hate,  must  be  good;  for  there  is  not  an 
infidel  paper  in  circulation  but  what  is  anti-mis- 
sionary, and  it  is  painful  to  reflect  that  Satan 
has  got  some  few  of  God's  children  to  assist  him 
in  opposing  the  spread  of  the  Gospel."  *  *  ^  *'I 
wish  you  ever  after  this  to  consider  me  as  favor- 
able to  missionary  operations."  *  -^  ^  "The  first 
breath  of  Gospel  liberty  my  soul  ever  breathed, 
inhaled  a  desire  that  this  joy  in  the  Holy  Spirit 
might  be  extended  to  others.  While  this  burns 
I  must  always  be  a  missionary  in  desire,  faith, 
and    practice." 

By  this  it  is  easy  to  see  he  was  a  bold  and  fear- 
less advocate  of  missions  and  all  the  benevolent 
agencies  of  the  church.  It  required  more  than 
ordinary  courage  to  withstand  the  tide  of  opposi- 
tion to  these  benevolent  enterprises.  The  strength 
of  the  Warwick  Association  became  intensely  Old 
School.  But  the  Orange  Church,  of  which  he  was 
pastor,  held  to  the  missionary  cause,  and  is  as 
trong   to-day  in   numbers    and    influence   as    sixty 


The  Old  School  Controversy.  65 

years  ago.  All  over  that  section  the  clear  voice 
of  Elder  Grenell  was  heard  in  defense  of  these 
agencies.  The  temperance  cause,  then  in  its  infancy, 
found  him  a  fearless  advocate.  He  adopted  the 
total  abstinence  doctrine,  and  delivered  lectures  and 
sermons  in  all  the  surrounding  country.  Drinking 
customs  were  then  prevalent  in  society,  and  the 
church  had  not  opened  her  eyes  to  the  alarming 
nature  of  the  evil.  Many  professing  Christians  were 
addicted  to  the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors,  and  were 
often  sadly  under  their  influence.  He  raised  the  stand- 
ard, made  an  attack  upon  the  enemy,  and  continued 
to  carry  on  the  warfare.  His  zeal  and  energy  in 
this  department  of  reform  were  ever  unabated 
during   his   ministerial  life. 

It  is  difficult  to  realize  the  amount  of  bitterness 
existing  at  that  time  against  missionary  agencies. 
All  sorts  of  opprobrious  epithets  were  used  by  Old 
School  leaders  to  show  the  hatred  cherished  toward 
the  missionary  party.  An  agent  raising  funds 
to  sustain  the  work  under  Judson  in  Burma 
was  regarded  with  the  utmost  detestation.  Father 
Bennett,  a  devoted  and  tried  servant  of  God,  a 
man  of  true  piety  and  great  power  in  the  pulpit, 
pioneer  agent  of  the  Missionary  Union,  came 
into  this  section.  He  was  full  of  zeal  for  the 
work,    and     overflowing     with    intelligence    of    tlie 


56  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

work  of  God  among  the  heathen.  Could  he  be 
allowed  to  preach  before  the  Warwick  Association  ? 
He  found  in  Elder  Grenell  a  kindred  spirit,  ready  to 
advance  the  missionary  cause,  and  wise  in  discern- 
ing the  time.  It  was  arranged  that  Father  Ben- 
nett preach  the  last  sermon,  and  that  about  the 
time  the  meeting  generally  closed.  Then  the 
intensely  bitter  could  depart,  and  those  inclined  to 
hear  the  Gospel  of  benevolence  could  enjoy  it. 
The  effort  of  the  agent  in  this  meeting,  and  his 
intercourse  with  many  brethren,  was  productive  of 
much  good.  Some  of  the  Old  School  even  gave 
money,  under  his  personal  appeal,  to  send  the  Gos- 
pel to  the  heathen.  Father  Bennett,  in  after  years, 
referred  to  the  fidelity  of  his  Brother  Grenell  in 
that  emergency,  and  said  of  a  strong  opponent  of 
the  cause,  "At  the  close  of  my  appeal  to  him,  he 
gave  me  a  dollar,  and  I  am  sure  that  was  more 
than  I  would  give  to  spread  Jiis  sentiments." 

Years  after  the  division.  Elder  Beebe  said 
publicly,  in  an  association,  in  reference  to  this 
early  intimacy,  "I  loved  him  as  a  brother,  but  he 
became  a  heretic."  And  Elder  Grenell  wrote 
in  reference  to  the  Old  School  party,  ''antiuomian- 
ism.   Rum,  fand   Covetousness   are   their  parents." 

And  here  we  leave  the  subject  to  the  verdict  of 
history   and    the     overruling     Providence     of    God. 


The  Old  School  Controversy.  57 

Both  of  these  men,  and  all  the  others  ranked  with 
them,  have  gone  into  "the  unseen  Holy,"  washed 
from  all  impurity  and  error  by  the  atoning  blood 
of  the  lamb,  and  missionary  operations  are  the 
great   religious  arm  of  the   Church. 


VI. 

LABORS  IN  PATERSON. 

With  the  month  of  November,  1833,  Elder  Grenell 
commenced  his  labors  in  Paterson,  New  Jersey,  then 
a  manufacturing  village  of  about  seven  thousand  in- 
habitants. The  Baptist  Church  had  been  organized 
about  twelve  years  before  this  time,  under  the  labors 
of  Elder  House.  After  him  Elder  Lewis  had  toiled 
for  eight  years  and  baptized  fifteen  into  the  fellow- 
ship of  the  body.  They  had  a  meeting  house  thirty- 
six  by  forty,  with  a  basement  for  social  meetings,  and 
a  debt  of  $1,200.  The  seating  capacity  of  the  audi- 
ence room  was  two  hundred  and  fifty.  The  finan- 
cial ability  of  the  church  was  very  small,  as  times 
had  been  hard  the  year  before,  and  some  had  lost 
nearly  all  they  possessed  of  this  world's  goods. 
And  yet  to  the  credit  of  this  little  band  of  be- 
lievers of  only  thirty-seven  in  all,  the  record  is  left: 
"They  promised  the  pastor  $600  annually,  which 
they  punctually  paid." 

Under  these  discouragements  the  pastor  com- 
menced his  labors  with  an  ardent  devotion  to  God, 
and    untiring    energy    in     the    work.     These    labors 


Labors  in  Paterson.  59 

were  to  be  abundant  in  the  line  of  preparing    ser- 
mons and  proclaiming  the  message  of  eternal  truth. 
Three  sermons  on  Sunday  and  one  during  the  week 
were  expected,  and  all  to    the   same  congregation. 
In  addition  to  this,  funeral  sermons,  labors  in  reviv- 
als,  and   the    usual    calls   for   preaching  at  associa- 
tions   and    general  denominational   gatherings  were 
to  be   added.     Was  not  all   this    a    Herculean   task 
which    no    church    now    demands  and    no    minister 
would  undertake .''     But  little  labor   was   demanded 
in    visiting   the    flock,  and    so    attention    was  given 
to   reading,    to    study,   to   the   investigation    of  new 
lines  of  thought,  and   to   a    thorough    and    system- 
atic  preparation  for   the  pulpit.     This   was  just  the 
work   demanded  for  this  earnest  preacher  to  deepen 
and  give  breadth  to  his  views  of  Gospel  truth,  and 
add  to  his  power  as  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel.     He 
improved  these  advantages,    and    manfully  met  the 
demand  made  upon    him.     Now  he  began  to  preach 
courses    of    sermons     on     the    Inspiration    of    the 
Scriptures,    on    the    Exposition     of     Revelation,    of 
the    Acts    of    the    Apostles    and    different    themes 
This  required   close  study  and  clear  conception,  as 
well     as     careful     classification,     so     as     to     keep 
each    branch    of    a     general     subject     distinct     by 
itself.       And     now     this     extemporaneous    preacher 
began     to     write     sermons,      to     carefully     mature 


6o  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

and  put  on  paper  his  discoveries  of  truth.  He 
very  seldom  carried  one  of  these  into  the  pulpit, 
and  could  not  confine  himself  to  the  "reading  of 
a  sermon,"  as  he  called  it,  but  being  blessed  with 
a  good  memory  and  abundance  of  confidence,  he 
delivered  these  studied  efforts  with  remarkable 
precision  of  thought  and  power.  But  having  a 
short  fit  of  sickness,  which  somewhat  affected  his 
memory,  he  began  to  use  a  short  skeleton  or  mon- 
itor. This  made  the  work  of  preaching  easier,  and 
relieved  the  strain  put  upon  his  powers  in 
preaching  off-hand  so  frequently.  In  a  remark- 
able manner  his  former  antipathy  against  studied 
and  written  discourses  began  to  give  way,  and  he 
saw  the  necessity  of  husbanding  his  strength  and 
relieving  himself  of  the  strain  put  upon  him.  That 
he  did  not  break  down  and  utterly  fail  under 
such  abundant  labors  was  owing  to  a  remarkable 
facility  of  preparing  sermons,  a  good  constitution 
.to  endure  labor,  and  the  excellent  care  of  a  com- 
panion at  home.  His  growth  in  the  ministry  was 
now  assured,  and  his  mark  made  as  *'one  of  the 
first  preachers"  of  the  time.  These  habits  of  study, 
and  this  good  use  of  his  library  and  books  of 
reference,  continued  with  him  during  all  the  years 
of  his    subsequent  history. 

It  was   owing    to    this    line   of    effort,    under   the 


Labors  in  Patersox.  61 

blessing  of  God,  that  success  and  prosperity  began 
so  soon  and  rose  so  high.  The  house  began  to 
fill  up,  and  seats  had  to  be  brought  into  the  aisles 
to  accommodate  the  hearers.  Those  well  prepared 
sermons,  delivered  with  such  energy  and  devotion 
of  soul,  drew  the  people  and  impressed  them.  Soon 
converts  were  flocking  to  the  baptismal  waters, 
and  the  church  growing  in  number,  in  moral  power 
and  influence  in  the  community.  Very  soon  the 
place  was  too  strait  for  them,  and  the  house  must 
be  enlarged  twenty-five  feet  in  length,  and  a 
gallery  on  three  sides,  thus  doubling  its  seat- 
ing capacity.  And  still  the  people  continued  to 
come,  and  the  power  of  Divine  grace  was  mani- 
fested in  bringing  souls  to  the  fountain  of  cleans- 
ing and  leading  them  to  own  "Christ  by  a  public 
profession.  Young  people  of  promise  came,  the 
hardened  and  profligate  wanderer  of  many  years 
was  led  to  repose  in  Christ  and  devote  all  to 
his  service.  It  was  a  glorious  ingathering  for 
'  the  little  church,  and  one  tide  after  another  con- 
tinued to  flow  in  until  they  were  enlarged  and 
established   as  a   church   of  great  promise. 

It  was  a  noble  effort  of  that  little  band  to  en- 
large the  house,  but  under  the  inspiration  and  ex- 
ample of  the  pastor,  and  the  necessity  of  the  case, 
it  was  done.      "  The  riches  of  their  poverty  abounded 


62  Elder  Zelotes  Grexell. 

in  their  liberality."  One  said,  "I  have  lost  all  I 
am  worth,  but  I  will  give  one  hundred  dollars  and 
raise  it  outside  the  church."  Another  said  substan- 
tially the  same.  The  pastor  gave  $ioo  and  raised 
$300  in   Plainfield   and   New   York. 

And  so,  by  a  united  effort,  $1,500  were  expended, 
the  former  debt  paid,  and  the  current  expenses 
of  the  church  met.  The  inspiration  of  that  day 
has  continued  until  the  present  time,  and  the 
work  then  done  has  multiplied  in  its  results  to 
this   day.     To   God    be    all    the    praise. 

During  the  early  part  of  this  ministry,  and  in 
the  midst  of  such  untiring  labors,  a  cloud  of  ad- 
versity settled  over  the  home  of  the  pastor.  He 
was  stricken  and  sad  at  the  loss  of  his  second  wife, 
Esther  Blaine,  who  had  been  the  sunlight  of  his 
home  for  twelve  years.  She  was  the  mother  of 
six  children,  all  of  whom  she  left  to  the  care  of 
God  and  her  broken  hearted  husband,  except  one, 
who  had  gone  in  infancy  to  the  nursery  above.  And 
yet  there  was  a  silver  lining  in  this  cloud.  It 
was  the  happy  and  transporting  manner  of  her 
death.  She  had  lingered  for  some  time  on  the 
borderland,  and  had  grown  too  feeble  to  speak 
above  a  whisper,  yet  she  sang  audibly  so  softly 
and   tenderly   the  lines: — 


Labors  in  Paterson.  63 

"O  when  sli<all  I  see  Jesus 

And  dwell  with  him  above, 
And  from  those  flowing  fountains 

Drink  everlasting  love? 
When  shall  I  be  delivered 

From  this  vain  world  of  sin, 
And  with  my  blessed  Saviour 

Drink  endless  pleasures  in?" 

The  house  was  desolate  and  empty  when  the 
mother  and  wife  was  gone.  New  arrangements 
must  now  be  made  in  adjustment  to  the  new  cir- 
cumstances. The  oldest  son  was  taken  to  live  with 
his  grandparents  in  North  Harpersfield,  Delaware 
County,  New  York.  The  babe  was  given  to  the  most 
intimate  friend,  at  whose  house  they  were  married, 
to  bring  up  as  her  own.  Another  found  a  home 
for  a  time  under  the  same  roof,  and  the  little  girls, 
three  in  number,  kept  at  home,  and  Aunt  Phebe 
installed  as  housekeeper.  What  sad  havoc  upon 
a  family  of  children,  tearing  them  asunder  and  de- 
stroying the  tender  affection  that  ought  to  grow 
with  their  advance  in  life.  A  family  of  fragments, 
widely  scattered,  and  never  again  united.  And 
never  have  all  the  children  been  gathered  together 
under  the  parental  roof,  never  all  seen  each  other, 
nor  gathered  around  the  one  domestic  board.  God 
grant  they  may  all  be  gathered  into  the  one  fami- 
ly of  the  redeemed  in  heaven. 

About    six    months    after   the    death  of  his   wife, 


'64  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

the  pastor  was  greatly  prostrated,  *' physically  and 
mentally,"  by  a  fit  of  sickness.  He  was  laid  aside 
fi"om  all  active  duties,  and  kept  out  of  the  pulpit 
five  successive  Sundays.  The  amount  of  labor  per- 
formed, together  with  the  severe  affliction  endured, 
was  the  cause.  And  when  so  far  recovered  as  to 
commence  again  his  official  duties,  his  wonted 
strength  was  not  regained.  He  remained  for  months 
in  poor  health.  In  the  spring  of  1836,  March  26,  he 
was  married  to  Mrs.  Eliza  Hutton,  of  New  York  City, 
and  soon  after  took  a  journey  to  his  old  home  in 
Delaware  County,  New  York.  This  respite  from 
labor  and  change  in  domestic  relations  were  of  great 
benefit  to  his  health,  and  he  returned  to  his  charge 
with  renewed  strength. 

This  marriage,  was  a  happy  omen  in  the  life  of 
this  afflicted  family.  The  dense  cloud  that  had 
rested  upon  it  floated  away,  and  the  clear  atmos- 
phere of  domestic  felicity  settled  down  upon  it,  Mrs. 
Eliza  Hutton  had  been  a  widow  five  years, 
with  a  little  girl  about  six  years  of  age,  which 
she  brought  with  her  into  the  new  home.  She  was 
an  estimable  lady,  a  good  mother  to  the  motherless 
children,  and  a  worthy  companion  and  helper  of 
her  husband.  He  has  left  on  record,  *T  found  her 
in  every  respect  a  very  agreeable  companion  and 
helpmeet  indeed." 


Labors  in  Patkrsox.  65 

Prosperity  continued  with  the  extended  labors 
of  Elder  GrencU  on  this  field.  At  the  close  of  his 
fifth  year  he  thought  it  duty  to  change  his  field  of 
labor  for  one  opened  to  him  of  more  income 
and  wider  influence.  The  record  in  summing 
up  is  one  thousand  three  hundred  and  eight  ser- 
mons, one  hundred  and  fifty-eight  baptized,  three 
of  whom,  George  C.  Baldwin,  William  Cockran, 
and  Robert  Hartly  became  ministers  of  the  Gospel. 
He  "commenced  labor  here  with  less  than  forty 
members  and  closed  with  more  than  one  hundred 
and  sixty." 


VII. 

LABORS   IN   NEW   YORK   CITY. 

In  reference  to  the  c^A\  extended  to  occupy  this 
new  field,  he  has  left  on  record  the  following  :  "I 
neither  wrought  it,  sought  it,  bought  it,  nor  thought 
it.  The  Paterson  church  was  dear  to  me  as  a  sea- 
son of  trial,  anxiety,  and  triumph.  But  I  had  full 
evidence  that  one  prominent  family  desired  a 
change  of  pastors,  my  salary  fell  short  $200  a 
year  of  supporting  my  family,  and  New  York  was 
a  field  of  increasing  usefulness."  So  in  October, 
1838,  we  find  Elder  Grenell  girding  on  the  har- 
ness and  giving  himself  to  this  new  undertaking. 

Two  small  Baptist  churches,  the  Grand  Street 
and  the  Broome  Street,  had  disbanded  and  united 
together  in  one  church.  They  occupied  a  hired 
house  in  Broome  street  that  had  been  erected  as  a 
free  church.  The  body  numbered  about  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy  members,  but  not  yet  made  one 
in  sympathy  and  work.  It  so  happened  in  the 
order  of  Divine  Providence,  that  Elder  Grenell 
had  preached  "by  exchange  of  pulpits,"  the  first 
sermon    to  this  newly  organized  body  of    believers 


Labors  in  New  York  City.  67 

after  the  union  of  the  two  into  one  church.  His 
mind  was  led  to  the  thirty-seventh  chapter  of 
Ezekiel,  ''The  two  sticks  put  together  in  the  hand 
and  bcconmig  one  stick,''  as  a  theme  of  discourse. 
The  preaching  of  this  sermon  made  a  favorable  im- 
pression, and  with  other  incidents  led  to  the  call 
and  its  acceptance. 

The  officers  of  the  new  organization  were  select- 
ed in  equal  numbers  from  the  two  bodies  of  which 
it  was  composed.  They  were  "good  and  true"  men 
in  their  relation  to  the  new  pastor,  and  in  efforts  to 
enlarge  the  borders  of  Zion.  So  old  preferences 
died  away,  the  pastor  led  his  flock  into  "green 
pastures,"  and  soon  the  Spirit  of  God  blessed  the 
union  and  effort  of  these  humble  Christians  with  a 
gracious  revival,  which  obliterated  all  past  differ- 
ences and  made  them  all  one  in  aim  for  the  good 
of  the  church.  What  a  healer  of  division  is  a 
powerful  revival  of  religion,  bringing  all  into  a 
higher  union  to  Christ  and  nearer  to  each  other. 
About  twenty  were  baptized  into  the  fellowship  of 
the  church,  the  congregation  was  greatly  enlarged, 
and  the  Sabbath  school  grew  rapidly  in  numbers 
and  influence. 

In  June,  1839,  ^^'^^^  ^'^c'^^'  body  was  "cordially  and 
affectionately"  received  into  the  Hudson  River 
Association.     The  venerable  Doc<"or  Cone  extended 


68  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

the  hand  of  fellowship  in  a  tender  manner  to  the 
pastor  as   the    representative   of  the  church. 

In  one  year  from  this  time  it  was  evident  a 
new  and  enlarged  house  of  worship  must  be  erect- 
ed for  the  accommodation  of  the  people  flocking  to 
this  "Temple  Gate  of  Zion."  The  house  they 
occupied  was  full,  and  more  room  for  children 
coming  into  the  family  was  imperatively  demanded. 
These  Christians  were  all  "the  poor"  to  whom  the 
Gospel  had  been  preached.  They  had  been  made 
rich  in  the  blessings  of  Divine  love,  and  }'et  were 
poor  in  this  world's  goods.  How  could  they  un- 
dertake such  a  work,  when  nothing  less  than 
$6,000  would  purchase  a  suitable  lot,  and  $12,000 
would  be  required  to  erect  a  suitable  building, 
"  more  than  they  all  were  worth."  But  with  faith 
in  God  and  the  demand  made  upon  them,  they 
resolved  to  make  the  effort,  under  the  inspiring 
leadership  of  their  pastor.  "A  lot  seventy-five  by 
one  hundred  feet  in  Cannon  Street,  near  Broome, 
was  rented  for  twenty-one  years,  interest  $300 
annually."  A  subscription  was  opened,  and  soon 
the  work   energetically  commenced. 

This  new  undertaking  imposed  additional  labor 
upon  the  pastor  of  a  very  trying  kind,  requir- 
ing great  persistence  in  effort  and  strong  faith  in 
ultimate    success.     In    addition    to    four    stated    ser- 


Labors  in  Xi:\v  Yokk  City.  gO 

mons  a  week,  he  had  to  "bef,^  money  to  keep  the 
thing  going,  and  ransacked  New  York,  obtaining 
donations  from  twenty-five  cents  to  $250."  This  was 
his  summer's  work,  gratuitously  given,  and  no  vaca- 
tion to  rest  and  recuperate  his  over-taxed  energies. 
In  addition  to  all  this,  it  was  a  task  of  no 
ordinary  kind  to  animate  and  keep  up  the  cour- 
age of  the  church  during  the  progress  of  the 
work.  A  strain  was  put  upon  their  beneficence 
which  was  not  anticipated  in  the  outset.  They 
were  required  to  keep  giving,  to  add  one-third  or 
one-half  to  the  amount  of  their  original  subscrip- 
tions. The  pastor  continued  to  preach  on  the 
rewards  of  benevolence,  the  efficiency  of  the  vol- 
untary system  and  the  need  of  co-operation  in  the 
work,  and  kindred  themes.  One  text  was  (Isaiah 
41:  7):  "So  the  carpenter  encouraged  the  goldsmith, 
he  that  smootheth  with  the  hammer  him  that  smote 
the  anvil,  saying.  It  is  ready  for  the  Soldering: 
and  he  fastened  it  with  nails  that  it  should  not 
be  moved."  All  these  efforts  had  an  influence  to 
inspire  the  people  and  lead  them  to  greater  exer- 
tion for  the  furtherance  of  the  object.  Then  "a 
pass  book  was  given  to  every  female  who  would 
try  to  raise  five  dollars  or  more,"  and  yet  the  de- 
mand was  not  fully  met.  Collections  came  in  froui 
sister    bodies,   and     the   house   w.is     completed    and 


to  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

dedicated  in  March,  1841.  Meetings  were  held 
several  evenings,  with  some  noted  preacher  in  the 
pulpit  at  each  meeting.  Several  hundred  dollars 
came  in  this  way  to  relieve  the  struggling  band. 
They  found  after  all  quite  a  debt  resting  upon 
them,  but  were  able  to  manage  it,  and  eventually 
saw  the    entire   sum   paid. 

The  erection  of  this  house  of  worship  was  a 
grand  undertaking  for  both  pastor  and  people.  It 
stood  when  completed  a  monument  to  their  faith, 
their  zeal,  and  self-sacrifice  for  the  cause  of  Christ. 
It  was,  for  the  time  and  the  part  of  the  city  in 
which  it  stood,  a  splendid  edifice  "of  substantial 
neatness,"  all  well  and  truly  done  under  a  feeling 
of  demand  to  accommodate  the  people  and  prepare 
the  way  for  large  accessions  to  the  church.  And 
not  one  regretted  the  sacrifice  made  when  he  saw 
the  house  full,  and  three  hundred  children  gathered 
into  the  Sabbath  school  as  the  future  hope  of  this 
Zion. 

But  the  best  of  this  grand  undertaking  was,  God 
smiled  on  the  effort  and  filled  the  house  with  his 
glory.  It  became  the  birth-place  of  souls,  a  Beth- 
el to  many  a  wandering  and  solitary  Jacob  going 
from  his  father's  home,  and  a  place  of  sweet  com- 
munion in  toil  and  triumph  for  Christ.  Eternity 
alone  can  fully  reveal    the  extent  of  this  work  or 


Labors  in  New  York  City.  71 

tell    how    many    souls    w^ere    blessed    with    a    new 
spiritual   life  in   Christ. 

"A  protracted  meeting"  was  commenced  by  the 
church,  with  but  little  special  interest  at  the  out- 
set. Some  few  felt  an  intense  desire  for  the  con- 
version of  sinners,  and  all  united  in  the  effort  to 
lengthen  the  cords  and  strengthen  the  stakes  of 
Zion.  After  the  first  week  of  effort  the  feeling 
increased,  the  work  deepened  and  continued  to 
spread  for  thirteen  weeks.  Meetings  were  held 
every  evening,  and  but  little  aid  given  to  the  pas- 
tor in  preaching,  yet  the  work  went  on,  and  often 
the  baptismal  waters  were  stirred,  until  one  hundred 
and  two  had  been  added  to  them.  Among  these 
converts  was  an  old  lady  of  seventy-three;  a  hus- 
band and  wife  who  had  long  been  parted,  but  who 
came  to  the  anxious  seat,  neither  knowing  the 
other  was  there,  made  one  in  Christ,  and  reunited 
in  family  relation;  an  inebriate  who  was  turned  to 
sobriety  and  became  a  noted  temperance  lecturer, 
and  others  of  all  ages  and  conditions  in  life.  It 
was  a  time  of  rejoicing  in  this  Zion  when  the  first 
communion  was  held  and  the  pastor  welcomed  so 
many  to  the  fold. 

At  the  close  of  these  meetings,  when  the  strain 
under  which  the  pastor  had  labored  w^as  removed, 
he  ''found  himself  completely  exhausted"  and  unable 


12  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

to  perform  his  accustomed  duties.  He  had  endan- 
gered his  health  by  overwork,  and  nature  demand- 
ed payment  for  wasted  energies.  The  old  remedy 
was  resorted  to,  *'a  journey  to  Harpersfield"  and  a 
visit  among  old  friends  and  relatives.  He  also  ex- 
tended the  journey  as  far  as  Elmira,  New  York, 
and  was  absent  from  his  pulpit  four  Sundays.  He 
returned  to  his  people  and  work  with  renewed  vigor* 
but  found  three  sermons  on  Sunday  in  a  large 
house  exceedingly  exhausting.  He  continued 
his  ministrations  during  the  summer,  and  in 
the  fall  received  a  call  to  enter  a  field  de- 
manding just  such  a  gift  of  building  up  and 
enlarging  as  he  possessed.  He  had  brought  the 
Cannon  Street  Church  to  a  high  state  of  prosper- 
ity, with  every  indication  of  strength  and  efficiency 
in  the  service,  and  the  hand  of  the  Lord  seemed 
to  lead  him  where  he  could  do  the  like  work  in 
another  field.  There  were  also  some  in  the  church 
who  thought  a  pastor  ought  not  to  remain  in  one 
church  more  than  three  years.  His  labors,  also, 
were  too  much  for  his  strength,  and  he  concluded 
to  accept  the  call  extended  to  him,  and  sunder 
the  relation  that  had  been  so  dear  to  him .  and  so 
wonderfully  blesssed  of  God  to  the  good  of  souls. 
The  record  stands  at  the  close  of  this  pastoral 
relation:     The  church  of  one   hundred   and   seventy 


Labors  in  Nkw  York  City.  73 

members  had  increased  to  four  hundred  and  twenty- 
five,  a  new  and  substantial  house  had  been  erected, 
with  a  seating  capacity  of  nine  hundred  and  well 
filled  with  hearers,  and  the  Sabbath  school  of  one 
hundred  had  grown  to  over  three  hundred.  He 
had  preached  one  thousand  and  ninty-six  sermons, 
baptized  one  hundred  and  eighty-nine  persons, 
married  ninety-three  couples,  and  left  a  united  and 
vigorous   church  with  the  best  of  feelings. 


VIII. 

LABORS   IN   ELMIRA. 

We  must  now  take  a  long  journey  to  western 
New  York,  and  follow  this  angel  of  light  as  he 
bears  the  message  to  Elmira,  then  a  village  of 
over  three  thousand  inhabitants.  In  thought  or 
on  the  wing  of  the  imagination,  we  can  in  a  mo- 
ment make  the  journey,  but  for  a  minister  to  move 
a  family  of  six  children,  beside  himself  and  wife, 
before  the  erection  of  the  Erie,  was  quite  an  under- 
taking. It  was  by  omnibus  to  the  Hudson  River, 
by  steamboat  to  Albany,  canal  to  Geneva,  lake 
boat  to  Watkins,  and  stage-coach  to  Elmira,  and 
occupied  one  whole  week.  Here  in  a  short  time 
Elder  Grenell  found  himself  settled  comfortably, 
and  began  to  build  the  waste  places  of  Zion  in 
this  thriving  village. 

The  Baptist  Church  was  **well  located  and  sub- 
stantial, and  would  seat  three  hundred  and  fifty 
persons."  They  had  been  without  a  pastor  for 
some  time,  and  were  not  in  a  very  prosperous  con- 
dition. There  were  one  hundred  and  ten  resident 
members,   about  forty  of  whom  resided  in   the  vil- 


Labors  in  Elmira.  75 

lage,  about  forty  in  South  Port,  some  five  miles 
distant  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  and  the 
rest  scattered    over  the   surrounding    country. 

Here  the  new  pastor  began  with  three  sermons 
on  Sunday,  and  one  during  the  week  in  Elmira 
and  one  in  South  Port — five  sermons  a  week,  beside 
extra  occasions.  And  the  salary  "$500  and  per- 
quisites." "The  church  expected  this,"  and  evi- 
dently meant  to  make  their  minister  earn  his 
money.  He  was  adequate  to  the  task,  and 
brought  things  new  and  old  out  of  the  treasury 
of  Divine  truth  for  their  instruction. 

Before  the  first  month  of  the  new  year  had  passed 
signs  of  an  awakening  appeared,  some  of  the  young 
people  in  the  congregation  were  serious,  and  an 
increasing  solemnity  was  apparent  among  the  peo- 
ple. A  series  of  extra  meetings  was  commenced 
and,  to  the  surprise  oi  the  church,  when  the  invi- 
tation was  given  on  the  first  night  "for  any  that 
desired  prayer  to  occupy  the  front  seat,  six  young 
people  came  forward,  weeping  for  sin."  This  gave 
a  new  impetus  to  the  meeting,  aroused  those  that 
had  been  cold  and  indifferent,  and  the  interest 
continued  to  increase.  A  neighboring  pastor  came 
to  the  aid  of  Elder  Grenell,  and  continued  each 
evening  for  five  weeks,  except  on  the  Sabbath, 
when  he  must  be  with  his  own  flock.     So  the  work 


76  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

went  on  until  the  baptismal  waters  had  been  visit- 
ed six  different  times,  and  fifty-five  had  been  buried 
with  Christ  and  raised  in  the  likeness  of  a  new 
life.  The  work  extended  to  South  Port,  to  Jeru- 
salem, some  six  miles  east,  and  through  the  vil- 
lage. A  large  proportion  of  the  converts  were  males, 
and  much  strength  was  added  to  the  church.  "Their 
ages  were  between  fourteen  and   sixty-five." 

About  this  time  the  Chemung  Association  was 
formed,  and  Elder  Grenell  took  an  active  part  in 
the  work.  A  preliminary  meeting  had  been  held, 
and  the  enterprise  agreed  upon,  but  the  organiza- 
tion and  first  meeting  were  under  his  personal 
supervision,  with  other  laborers  on  the  field.  He 
preached  the  opening  sermon  of  the  new  associa- 
tion, and  was  called  to  preside  over  its  delibera- 
tions. It  was  with  great  energy  he  entered  into 
and  preformed  his  part  of  this  service.  It  was  a 
wise  and  timely  step  taken  when  this  body  was 
organized  with  six  churches,  for  it  continued  to 
increase  until  over  twenty  churches  were  enrolled  on 
its   banner. 

The  next  effort  of  the  pastor  was  to  increase 
the  benevolence  of  the  church,  and  this  had  to 
be  done  without  the  cordial  co-operation  of  the 
more  wealthy  members.  About  sixty  dollars  was 
the   amount    that  had    been  contributed   to    all    the 


Labors  in  Elmira.  11 

benevolent  organizations  of  the  denomination. 
This  was  thought  by  the  pastor  to  be  a  very- 
small  thing  for  a  body  possessing  the  pecuniary 
ability  he  knew  they  had.  So  by  the  plain  preach- 
ing of  the  Word,  by  continued  effort  in  arousing 
and  cultivating  a  missionary  spirit,  the  contribu- 
tions of  the  first  year  of  his  labor  came  up  to 
$ioo.  The  next  year  it  reached  the  sum  of 
$200,  and  the  following  year  $3CX)  were  given. 
The  fourth  year  brought  $400  into  the  missionary 
treasury  and  the  fifth  saw  the  mark  of  $500  reached. 
It  was  a  surprise  to  all  that  so  much  was  raised 
to  extend  the  Gospel  beyond  the  bounds  of  the 
church;  but  it  clearly  reveals  the  fact  that  a  faith- 
ful pastor,  inspired  with  a  missionary  spirit,  can  do 
much  to  bring  the  gifts  of  the  disciples  into  the 
treasury. 

One  great  hindrance  to  ministerial  success  on 
this  field  was  the  slow  and  easy  way  of  raising  the 
pastor's  salary.  It  was  three  years  before  a  settle- 
ment could  be  gained,  and  then  they  were  $250 
in  arrears  with  him.  They  had  agreed  to  pay 
him  quarterly,  and  to  furnish  his  wood,  and  hay 
for  his  horse.  These  items  were  neglected,  and  a 
continual  annoyance  and  vexation  were  the  results. 
When  they  settled  with  the  pastor  he  had  means 
to    meet   his    obligations,    and    felt    a    great    burden 


78  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

was  removed  from  his  mind.  In  relation  to  this 
settlement  he  said  ''This  enabled  me  to  pay  all 
my  debts  and  I  was  happy." 

The  income  of  the  society  did  not  meet  its 
expenses,  and  all  through  the  carelessness  and 
neglect  of  those  able  to  have  it  otherwise.  The 
result  was  a  continual  friction  between  pastor  and 
people,  and  the  reflex  influence  on  the  harmony 
and  spiritual  prosperity  of  the  church  was  exceed- 
ingly bad.  It  led  to  one  vexation  after  another, 
continually  irritating  the  pastor  and  leading  to 
unkind  remarks  and  complaints,  till  a  separation  of 
pastor  and  people  must  be  the  result.  A  salary  of 
$500  and  perquisites,  find  his  own  house,  and 
then  a  family  of  eight  to  ten  to  mantain,  how 
could  it  be  done  but  by  the  closest  economy  ? 
Should  not  a  body  of  believers  realize  the  ne- 
cessity of  promptly  meeting  their  obligations  and 
relieving  the   pastor   of  all   unnecessary   anxiety.-^ 

During  the  fourth  year  of  this  pastorate  he  paid 
a  visit,  in  company  with  his  brother  Samuel,  then 
pastor  of  the  Jackson  Church,  Tioga  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, to  Harpersfield.  His  mother  was  still  liv- 
ing, and  he  was  enabled  to  bring  her  back  to  his 
home  to  m.ake  a  visit.  She  remained  during  the 
winter,  and  returned  to  her  home  soon  to  be  gath- 
ered to  her  eternal   rest. 


Labors  in  Elmira.  79 

He  also  visited  Elder  Warner  Lake  at  Mount 
Morris,  who  had  baptized  him  and  his  parents  many 
years  before.  He  remained  over  Sunday,  and  had 
a  delightful  visit  with  the  aged  servant,  and  filled 
the  pulpit  for  him.  This  was  their  last  and  parting 
visit,  for  the  venerable  servant  of  God  soon  passed 
to  his  reward.  A  tender  feeling  was  ever  felt  by 
Elder  Grenell  for  this  man  of  God,  and  he  fre- 
quently  spoke  of  him    with   great   respect. 

At  the  close  of  this  same  year  ''special  signs 
of  revival"  appeared,  and  a  few  precious  souls  were 
led  to  own  Christ  and  became  members  of  the 
church.  There  was  a  lack  of  co-operation,  a  la- 
mentable indifference  was  manifested  by  the  mem- 
bership, and  so  the  work  did  not  spread  and  become 
general  in  power  and  blessing.  Some  desired 
a  change  of  pastors,  and  were  not  heartily  second- 
ing his  efforts.  So  the  decision  was  made,  if  an 
opportunity  offer  it  will  be  duty  to  embrace  it. 
Soon  the  old  field  at  Paterson  was  opened  to 
him,  and  with  the  close  of  his  fifth  year  he 
resigned  and  returned  to  his  former  charge.  The 
record  of  these  years  stands:  "Attended  fifteen 
associations,  dedicated  six  new  meeting  houses, 
increased  the  resident  membership  fifty-five,  and 
added  greatly  to*  the  pecuniary  ability"  of  the 
body.      lie     had     preached    nearly  six    sermons    a 


80  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

week  for   the    entire  time  of  his  labor    on  this  field. 

These  five  years  were  not  barren  of  results,  but 
far  less  was  accomplished  than  might  have  been, 
had  there  only  been  the  requisite  spirit  of  devotion 
to  God  and  co-operation  with  the  pastor.  A  faith- 
ful ministry  may  be  greatly  hindred  in  this  way, 
and  the  sad  result  is,  such  brethren  stand  in  their 
own  light  and  keep  from  the  church  the  benefit 
that  might  be  gained  by  an  opposite  course.  It 
was  with  feelings  of  sorrow  that  this  field  was 
abandoned,  and  yet  with  gratitude  to  God  for 
many  blessings  shared  there  and  for  an  open  door 
of  usefulness    elsewhere. 

Farewell  to  Elmira  and  welcome  to  Patersoi> 
again. 


IX. 

IN    PATERSON   AGAIN. 

After  an  absence  of  nine  years  Elder  Grenell 
returned  to  Paterson  and  commenced  his  labors 
with  the  same  church  he  had  left  on  account  of 
the  insufficiency  of  the  salary  to  sustain  his  family^ 
There  were  now  ten  children  under  the  parental 
roof,  and  it  was  an  arduous  and  expensive  task  to 
remove  the  family  from  Elmira  over  the  same 
route  he  had  taken  when  going  out  there.  He  had 
now  the  promise  of  $750,  and  thought  some  of  the 
older  children  could  aid  a  little,  in  various  ways' 
to  lengthen  out  the  income.  It  was  a  delight  to 
the  family  to  get  back  to  the  old  place  of  resi- 
dence and  nearer  to  their  relatives 

During  his  absence  of  nine  years  the  church  had 
had  four  or  five  pastors,  and  had  received  about  one 
hundred  by  baptism.  But  a  division  had  arisen 
among  them  and  a  party,  about  one-third  of  their 
number,  had  separated  and  formed  a  second  church. 
They  were  meeting  in  a  hired  hall,  and  seemed 
to  be  vigorous  and  successful  for  a  time,  but  in- 
ternal dissention  and  hard  times  soon  wasted  them 


82  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

entirely  away.  Some  went  to  one  society,  some  to 
another,  but  few  returned  to  the  mother  church,  and 
many  glided  back  into  the  world.  It  was  thus  a 
damage  to  the  strength  of  the  Baptist  cause,  leav- 
ing the  society  of  which  he  was  overseer  almost  the 
same  in  number  as  when  he  left  them  nine  years 
before. 

Under  such  circumstances  the  pastor  commenced 
his  second  term  of  service.  His  first  text  was 
Genesis  30:  31,  "I  will  again  feed  and  keep  thy 
flock."  This  indicated  the  resolution. of  the  pastor, 
and  must  have  been  a  timely  and  appropriate 
theme   for  the   contemplation   of  the  people. 

But  immediate  results  did  not  attend  the  labor 
put  forth,  as  in  former  years.  For  two  years  the 
additions  to  the  church  ''were  only  one  baptism 
and  a  few  by  letter."  The  same  Gospel  was  preached 
and  with  the  accustomed  earnestness  in  delivery, 
but  the  Word  did  not  meet  w^th  the  desired  effect, 
either  in  arousing  the  church  to  a  state  of  spirit- 
ual activity,  or  leading  sinners  to  the  Savior. 
But  at  length  there  were  signs  of  a  revival,  and 
it  appeared  that  soon  concerts  would  be  flocking 
to  Zion  and  asking  for  baptism.  As  there  was  no 
convenient  place  to  baptise,  the  pastor  anticipated 
the  want  by  raising,  personally,  the  means,  and  hav- 
ing   a   baptistery    put  into    the    church.     It    was    a 


In  Paterson  A(jain.  83 

gentle  and  refreshing  shower  that  came,  with  but 
a  few  in  number  gathered  in,  but  precious  in  its 
influence,  and  with  blessings  to  the  family  of  the 
pastor.  Two  of  the  children  were  among  those 
welcomed   into   the   fold. 

About  the  commencement  of  this  pastorate, 
Elder  John  Rogers,  who  had  been  pastor  at 
Scotch  Plains,  retired  from  the  ministry  on  ac- 
count of  age  and  increasing  infirmity,  and  came  to 
reside  in  Paterson.  The  relation  of  the  pastor  to 
this  aged  servant  of  God  was  exceedingly  pleasant 
and  profitable.  There  was  no  jar  or  jealousy  aris- 
ing on  either  side,  and  Elder  Grenell  often  men- 
tioned, in  after  years,  the  pleasure  derived  from 
intercourse  with  him  and  his  family.  The  stay  of 
the  veteran  on  furlough  w^as  not  long,  for  during 
the  last  year  of  his  pastoral  labor  Elder  Grenell  was 
called  to  discharge  the  last  sad  rite  and  follow 
him  to  the  grave.  Both  at  the  funeral  service  at 
the  house,  and  the  following  Sabbath  in  the  sanct- 
uary appropriate  sermons  wxre  preached.  *'The 
memory  of  the  just  is  blessed,"  and,  ''To  die  is 
gain." 

During  these  years  "that  fearful  scourge,  the 
cholera,"  visited  Paterson,  and  "made  sad  havoc 
in  the  town  and  in  the  church."  Two  of  the  lead- 
ing members  were  smitten   down,  and  the  visitation 


84  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

of  the  sick  and  attendance  at  funerals  added  great- 
ly to  the  labor  demanded  of  the  pastor.  He  was 
mercifully  sustained,  and  in  no  case  refused  to  visit 
and  pray  with  the  afflicted,  or  discharge  his  duty  at 
the  funeral. 

And  following  this  came  scarlet  fever,  the 
dread  of  so  many  parents,  and  so  fearful  in  its 
destruction  of  children.  It  entered  the  family  of 
the  minister  and  four  of  the  children  were  sick  at 
one  time,  and  one,  the  bright  and  cheerful  Eliza,  in 
her  ninth  year,  died.  It  was  a  severe  blow  to  the 
family,  but  how  thankful  that  the  others  were  spared. 

Elder  Grenell  preached  several  courses  of  ser- 
mons during  this  stay  w4th  the  people  of  Pat- 
erson — -one  on  the  types  of  Christ,  one  on  the 
miracles,  and  "on  other  subjects."  He  also  deliv- 
ered many  temperance  sermons,  and  openly  ad- 
vocated the  doctrine  of  total  abstinence.  The 
trumpet  when  put  to  his  mouth  gave  no  uncertain 
sound  on  this   or   any  other    Gospel   theme. 

His  "  stay  at  Paterson  was  just  four  years  and 
three  months.  Twenty-five  baptized,  eight  hundred 
and  forty-nine  sermons,  and  thirty-five  marriages." 
With  the  best  of  feeling  existing,  and  no  desire  for  a 
change  showing  itself,  the  pastor  concluded  to  move 
for  two  reasons,  (^ne  was,  "he  could  not  live  on 
$750    a    year,"    and    the    other    was     removing   his 


In  Paterson  Again.  85 

boys  away  from  the  influences  surrounding-  them. 
So  he  removed  to  Horseheads  and  commenced 
his  labors  January  i,  1852.  This  was  only  six  miles 
from  Elmira,  a  former  field  of  labor.  Here  he  pur- 
chased a  few  acres  of  land,  in  order  to  furnish 
work  for  his  boys,  and  erected  a  dwelling  for 
a  home.  But  he  soon  found  the  new  field  was 
not  at  all  after  his  liking.  He  found  the  church 
"very  unsound  on  the  temperance  subject,"  "much 
moderate  drinking,"  "members  used  it  and  dealt 
in  the  article." 

They  were  not  a  benevolent  people,  nor  were 
they  aggressive  in  Christian  work.  "The  salary 
came  slow,"  and  there  was  not  the  proper  response 
to  the  earnest  appeals  of  the  pulpit.  So  this  was 
destined  to  be  a  short  term  of  service,  and  lasted 
only  one   year  and   nine  months. 

But  fruit  was  gathered  even  here,  and  quite  a 
number  were  welcomed  into  the  church  on  profes- 
sion of  faith  in  Christ.  On  this  field  "thirteen  were 
baptized,  tv/o  hundred  and  fifty  sermons  were 
preached,  and  nine  couples  married."  He  left  on 
record,  also,   "I  left  all  in  peace  and  friendship." 

The  tent  was  next  pitched  in  Honcsdale,  at  the 
head  of  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal  and  the 
county  seat  of  \Va)'ne  County,  Pennsylvania.  Its 
population    was   about  three    thousand  and  continu- 


8G  Elder  Zelotes  Grekell. 

ally  increasing.  The  Baptist  Society  had  a  good 
house  of  worship,  well  located,  but  only  a  member- 
ship of  about  seventy-five.  Other  denominations 
were  far  in  advance  of  them  in  wealth,  in  numbers, 
and  in  social  influence.  But  the  little  church  was 
a  truly  noble  one,  united,  benevolent,  and  with  a  few 
of  the  choice  spirits  in  it.  Under  such  inspiring 
influences,  labor  was  commenced.  He  threw  his  en- 
tire energy  into  the  work,  and  brought  "beaten  oil  " 
into  the  sanctuary.  The  ''utmost  harmony  existed" 
between  pastor  and  people  on  this  field.  They 
were  edified  and  well  pleased  with  the  food  served 
for  them,  and  he  was  assured  of  their  cordial  esteem 
and  co-operation.  How  easy  to  serve  such  a  people, 
and  how  pleasant  the  service  of  administering  to 
all  their  needs. 

But  this  pastorate  was  like  the  former  one,  destined 
to  be  short,  but  for  a  different  reason.  The  pastor 
was  anxious  to  erect  a  house  on  the  rear  of  the 
church  lot.  It  was  difficult  to  hire  a  suitable  house, 
even  for  a  year,  for  a  certainty,  and  he  wished  to 
have  a  home  of  his  own.  The  church  did  not 
enter  into  the  arrangement  with  him,  and  he  gained 
the  idea  they  were  averse  to  it  for  fear  they 
might  have  an  old  man  on  their  hands,  who  would 
not  be  able  to  fill  the  demand.  So  he  quickly 
accepted  a  call     extended     from     Port    Jervis,   and 


In  Paterson  again.  87 

closed  his  labors  to  the  great  sorrow  and  grief  of 
the  members.  It  is  reported,  **  one  of  the  deacons 
cried  like  a  child,"  when  the  resignation'  was  pre- 
sented, and  all  were  sorry  that  he  had  determined 
to  go. 

The  record  of  this  field  is:  "One  year  and  seven 
months.  Three  hundred  and  eighty-three  sermons, 
seven  baptized,  and  married  eighteen  couples."  Here 
he  preached  a  course  of  sermons  **  on  the  family 
relation/'  which  were  well  received,  and  his  efforts 
in  behalf  of  temperance  ''were  marked  with  great 
applause." 


LABORS  IN  PORT  JERVIS. 

X. 

Port  Jervis,  in  Orange  County,  New  York,  on 
the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal,  and  at  the  west- 
ern terminus  of  the  Eastern  Division  of  the  New 
York,  Lake  Erie  and  Western  Railroad,  is  only 
ten  miles  from  Meadville,  where  Elder  Grenell 
commenced  his  ministry  in  1818.  At  that  time 
there  was  no  place  bearing  the  name  of  Port 
Jervis ;  but,  with  the  construction  of  the  canal,  a 
settlement  was  commenced,  the  name  given,  and 
its  growth  prospectively  assured.  From  time  to 
time  Baptist  families  moved  into  the  place,  and 
thus  soon  formed  the  nucleus  of  an  organization. 
In  1835  about  twenty  persons  were  duly  recog- 
nized as  a  regular  Baptist  Church.  At  the  time  of 
Elder  Grenell's  ministerial  settlement  the  member- 
ship had  increased  to  seventy-five,  but  they  were 
scattered  over  quite  an  extent  of  territory  —  in 
Quarry  Hill,  Sparrowbush,  and  Huguenot  —  with 
but  a  minority  in  the  village  near  the  house  of 
worship.  These  different  places  were  held  as  out- 
posts of  the  society,  and  an  occasional  sermon  was 


In  Port  Jervir.  ^  89 

demanded  in  cacli,    in    addition  to   the   two  on    the 
Sabbatli  in  tlic  church   edifice. 

Among  the  first  efforts  of  the  new  pastor,    aside 
from    preaching    the    word,    was    the    erection    of  a 
baptistery  in  the  vestibule,  directly  behind  the   pul- 
pit.    It  was  carried  through  by  the  individual  efforts 
of  the  pastor  in    securing   the  means   and   superin- 
tending   the    work,    and    so   arranged    that  a    door, 
swinging  on  hinges,  could  be  raised  in    a   moment 
and  the  baptistery  opened  to  the  view  of  the  entire 
audience.     He  seemed  to  have  an  instinctive  belief 
that  such  a  thing  would  be  demanded  soon.     With 
his  accustomed  facility  in  gaining  converts,  he  ex- 
pected candidates  for  the  ordinance,    and    was    not 
mistaken  in  his    expectations.     Only    a   few    weeks 
after  the  completion  of  the    pool,    three    candidates 
for  the  initiatory  rite  were  received.     Among  these 
was  his  son  Zelotes,    then    a    lad    of  fifteen,    now  a 
minister  of  the  same    Gospel  —  a   worthy   namesake 
of  his    father.     This     bowing    to    Christ   and    being 
buried  with  him  spread  like  a    holy   infection,    and 
the  baptismal  waters  were  often  stirred.     These  im- 
mersions were  usually  on  Sunday  evenings,  and  to 
crowded    audiences    the   pastor    gave    a    reason    for 
the  faith  and  practice  of  the  Baptists. 

There  had  been  but    little    preaching    of  the  dis- 
tinctive   views    of  our    denomination    in   this  place. 


90  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

and  many  were  timid  and  fearful  lest  the  procla- 
mation of  them  might  offend.  But  this  minister  of 
Christ  was  conscientious  and  decided  in  his  views, 
and  believed  people  would  be  converted  to  no 
more  truth  than  was  preached.  So  he  presented 
"the  glory  of  baptism"  as  an  ordinance  of  the 
glorious  Gospel  of  Christ,  "the  burial  with  Christ" 
and  the  "  putting  on  Christ"  as  professing  faith  in 
him  by  baptism.  It  is  believed  this  effort  was  a 
timely  and  judicious  one,  resulting  in  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  church  of  which  he  was  pastor. 

In  this  place  the  pastor  realized  his  cherished 
plan  of  a  house  of  his  own.  He  purchased  a  large 
lot,  invested  his  means  in  the  erection  of  a  house, 
and  was  soon  settled  with  his  family  in  a  habita-^ 
tion  of  his  own.  He  began  to  hope  that  it  might 
be  the  place  of  his  abode  till  release  came  from 
earthly  toil.  But  this  dream,  like  many  an  other, 
was  not  to  be  realized. 

For  the  first  three  years  every  thing  went  on 
smoothly,  and  there  was  union  and  harmony  among 
the  people  as  a  body  and  in  respect  to  the  pastor. 
But  the  latter  part  of  this  pastoral  relation  was  far 
otherwise.  It  had  been  what  some  call  a  "one 
man  church"  ;  not  in  any  invidious  sense,  but  from 
the  necessity  of  the  case.  One  man  of  some  pe- 
cuniary ability,  of  intelligence  and  devotion  to  the 


In  Port  Jervip,  91 

Baptist  faith,  had  early  settled  here  and  acquired 
a  controlling  influence  in  the  working  of  the  church. 
But  there  must  naturally  be  a  change  in  this  re- 
spect when  the  body  increases  and  other  minds 
assert  their  opinions  and  assume  work  for  the  cause. 
When  influence  slips  out  of  the  hands  of  such  a 
man,  jealousy  and  ill  feelings  arise  ;  he  is  ready  to 
attribute  his  loss  of  authority  to  the  pastor,  or  to 
incidents  which  may  have  no  direct  bearing  upon 
it. 

Times  became  exceedingly  critical,  and  many 
trembled  for  the  safety  of  the  ark.  Some  even  went 
so  far  as  to  openly  calumniate  the  pastor,  when  it 
was  evident  that  nothing  but  prejudice  and  envy 
ruled  the  breast.  It  was  a  season  of  deep  humili- 
ation to  the  pastor,  a  trying  ordeal  through  which 
he  finally  passed  fully  justified  by  the  church.  The 
result  was  that  some  of  those  bringing  trouble  into 
the  Zion  of  God  were  disowned  ;  but  the  evil  leav- 
en continued  to  operate,  till,  for  peace  and  self- 
respect,  the  pastor  closed  his  relation  with  the 
church  at  the  end  of  six  years  and  six  months. 
During  that  period  he  had  preached  one  thousand 
three  hundred  and  eighty-nine  sermons  and  bap 
tised  fifty-seven  converts, 


LABORS    IN   GLENWOOD   AND    MILLINGTON. 
XI. 

For  the  first  time  during  his  ministerial  life, 
Elder  Grenell  was  now  without  a  charge.  He  had 
been  exceedingly  uncomfortable  in  his  relations  to 
the  church  he  had  left  for  a  number  of  months. 
The  finances  of  the  society  had  been  badly  man- 
aged. There  had  been  many  annoyances  and  per- 
plexities continually  arising  to  vex  him.  He  had 
been  "driven  from  the  field,"  as  he  thought,  though 
when  called  it  was  with  the  distinct  understanding, 
that  while  able  to  perform  the  duties  he  should  be 
the  pastor  of  the  church.  But  the  reply  made 
was,  '*We  are  not  bound  by  any  such  agreement," 
and  "We  will    not  be    responsible    for  the    salary." 

Quite  an  amount  of  salary  was  relinquished  by 
him  at  the  time  of  closing  his  relation  in  order  to 
get  the  remainder  to  settle  up  his  accounts.  He 
felt  a  great  relief  in  being  free  from  the  many  trials 
that  had  been  encountered,  and  trusted  in  the  lead- 
ing of  Divine  Providence,  for  the  future.  These  and 
many  such  trials,  are  often  endured  by  the  minis- 
ters   of  Christ,  in    the    prosecution     of  their  work. 


In  G-lenwood  and  ]SIiltjngton.  93 

But  within  three  weeks  the  steps  of  this  unrest- 
ing^ preacher  were  directed  to  North  Vernon,  now 
Glenwood,  about  eight  miles  the  other  side  of  his 
first  location  in  the  ministry.  No  church  or  organ- 
ization had  been  effected  there.  The  Baptists, 
residing  in  the  vicinity,  were  a  branch  of  the  Ham- 
burgh church,  and  this  was  eight  miles  distant  from 
their  place  of  worship.  So  the  thought  of  organiz- 
ing an  independent  society  was  entertained,  and  a 
small  house  of  worship,  that  had  been  erected  by 
the  Christians,  was  secured  for  the  debt  remaining 
on  it.  So  the  field  was  open  to  him,  and  in  Janu- 
ary a  council  recognized  a  church  of  thirty-seven 
members,  and  he  became  its  first  pastor.  Providence 
in  this  way  opened  to  him  a  pleasant  field  of  use- 
fulness, and  made  him  a  blessing  to  that  people, 
with  whom  his  relations  were  remarkably  pleasant 
during  the  entire  time  of  his  stay  among  them. 

It  was  not  long  before  converts  were  coming  to 
the  baptizmal  waters  and  seeking  admission  into 
the  church.  He  was  permitted  to  baptize  seven 
during  his  three  and  a  half  years  of  labor,  to  see 
the  little  body  becoming  earnest  and  efficient  in 
their  eftbrts  to  sustain  the  cause,  and  to  gather  in 
a  few  by  letter.  "  Here  he  preached  five  hundred 
and  twenty  sermons,"  and  when,  at  the  evident  call 
of  duty,  his  mind  turned  to  Millington,  he  provided 


94  Elder  Zflotes  Grenell. 

Glenvvood  with  a  successor.  His  nephew,  Rev.  I.  M. 
Grenell  was  commended  to  them,  and  introduced  to 
their  hearing.  The  wisdom  of  both  the  pastor  retir- 
ing and  the  people  clinging  to  him  was  manifested 
in  this  step.  The  nephew  has  remained  on  the 
field  for  twenty  years,  and  his  labors  have  been 
blessed  to  the  good    of  many. 

•'The  first  Sunday  in  April,  1865,"  labor  was 
commenced  in  Millington,  situated  in  *'the  Passaic 
Valley,"  a  country  parish,  set  off  from  Mount  Bethel, 
the  mother  church,  about  fifteen  years  previous  to 
this  time.  The  two  houses  of  worship  were  only 
two  miles  apart ;  but  Mount  Bethel  was  on  the 
ridge,  dividing  the  stream  forming  the  Passaic,  and 
the  Raritan,  and  hence  too  remote  for  the  con- 
venience of  some  of  the  people.  On  this  account  the 
formation  of  the  Millington  church  in  the  valley 
had  been  accomplished.  The  membership  was  about 
one  hundred,  the  house  well  located  and  the  body 
a  united  and  harmonious  one,  having  a  good  report 
of  other  denominations. 

Nothing  of  special  note  occurred  during  the  first 
two  years  of  pastoral  labor  with  this  people.  The 
pastor  was  at  home  among  them,  and  free  from  any 
annoying  incidents  in  his  relations  to  the  people, 
and  sacredly  gave  himself  to  preaching  and  pastoral 
visitation.     It  is  also  due  to  this  band  of  disiples  to 


In  Glen  wood  and  Millington.  95 

say,  that  they  held  their  pastor  in  high  esteem, 
and  ever  treated  him  with  kindness  and  the  respect 
due  to  his  age  and  office.  He  ever  spoke  kindly 
in  after  years  of  his  relation  to  them,  and  the  many 
favors  received  from  them. 

About  the  middle  of  the  third  year,  the  seed  that 
had  been  so  faithfully  sown  and  watered,  began  to 
bear  fruit.  "The  Lord  granted  them  a  precious 
revival  of  religion,"  It  commenced  "early  in  the  fall 
in  the  school  house,  south  of  the  meeting  house." 
Here  meetings  were  conducted  by  the  pastor  for 
three  weeks,  with  about  one  dozen  inquirers  anxious- 
ly seeking  the  forgiveness  of  their  sins.  Then  the 
meeting  was  removed  to  the  house  of  worship  and 
soon  began  to  extend  to  the  north.  Meetings  were 
continued  through  the  winter,  notwithstanding  the 
extreme  cold,  the  depth  of  the  snow,  and  the  drifts 
that  blocked  up  the  roads.  The  pastor  continued 
to  preach  each  evening,  the  brethren  performed  some 
of  the  labor  of  visiting,  and  the  gentle  influences  of 
divine  love  continued  to  rest  upon  the  people,  until 
thirty-one  were  gathered  by  baptism  into  the  church. 
Among  the  converts  were  two  young  men,  both  of 
whom  went  through  college,  one  to  become  a 
preacher  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  other  a  teacher. 
The  revival  "was  a  great  blessing  to  the  church," 
both  in  the  additions   to  the   membership,  and  the 


96  Elder  Zelotes  Grenei^. 

spiritual  strength  imparted.  It  was  a  great  blessing 
and  encouragement   to  the  pastor. 

About  this  time,  duty  seemed  to  demand  an 
augmentation  of  the  pastor's  labors.  The  Mount 
Bethel  interest  had  become  weak  by  removals  and 
deaths,  and  was  now  unable  to  sustain  a  pastor. 
They  wished  the  services  of  the  Millington  pastor 
every  Sabbath  afternoon,  and  there  seemed  to  be 
an  obligation  resting  on  the  brethren  in  the  valley, 
to  aid  the  feeble  band  on  the  mountain.  So  this 
additional  work  was  taken,  and  the  school  house 
meetings  changed  to  evenings  in  the  week.  This 
move  was  a  good  one  for  the  destitute  church, 
but  too  severe  in  the  strain  put  upon  the  ener- 
gies of  the  pastor.  It  was  carried  out  during  his 
labor  on  this  field,  but  caused  him  eventually  to 
give  up  and  retire  from  the  charge.  He  was  now 
a  man  of  over  "three  score  years  and  ten,"  and 
could  not  endure  long-  this  amount  of  labor  and 
exposure.  This  conviction  was  more  and  more 
impressed  upon  him,  as  the  months  went  by,  that 
he  could  not  endure  the  fatigue  incident  to  the  work 
without  endangering  his  health,  and  breaking  down 
entirely.  So  he  gradually  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  duty  required  him  to  give  up  the  field  if  an 
opening  should  be  presented  elsewhere. 

As  a  pastor  he  was  well  pleased  with  the  results 


In  Glenwood  and  Millincjton.  9T 

of  his  labor.  "The  in<^athcring  turned  out  to  be 
a  very  good  one,  after  years  of  trial."  The  con- 
verts were  true  to  their  profession  and  the  church 
gained  in  permanent  strength.  This  was  a  great 
encouragement  and  cause  of  thanksgiving  to    God. 

But  little  change  occurred  during  the  years  he 
remained  after  the  revival.  The  membership  was 
somewhat  diminished  by  removals,  but  this  in  part 
was  made  up  by  persons  bringing  letters.  "There 
was  all  the  time  the  best  state  of  feeling  in  the 
church  and  between  the  church  and  the  pastor" 

But  his  health  and  strength  were  giving  way,  and 
he  was  apprehensive  that  ''the  work  would  event- 
ually break  him  down."  There  was  a  door  opened 
to  him  and  he  felt  it  duty  to  enter  it. 

Hard  was  the  parting  of  pastor  and  people.  In 
a  social  gathering  of  the  church  and  congregation 
he  made  a  farewell  address  to  them.  He  spoke  of 
the  uniform  kindness  manifested  toward  himself 
during  his  stay  of  six  years.  He  declared  his  affec- 
tion for  them  but  related  the  steps  through  which 
his  mind  had  been  led  to  come  to  the  conclusion 
reached.  He  invoked  the  benediction  of  heaven 
upon  them  and  bestowed  in  a  worthy  manner  his 
own  blessing.  There  was  hardly  a  dry  eye  in  that 
concourse  as  he  came  to  the  conclusion  of  his  ad- 
dress and  said  "farewell."     The  writer  was  present 


98  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

and  wondered  that  so  much  tender  feeHng  should 
be  manifested  by  men  and  women  in  the  activities  of 
life.  It  reminded  him  of  the  Elders  of  Ephesus  meet- 
ing" Paul  when  he  bade  them  such  an  affectionate 
farewell. 

His  testimony  was/*  To  decide  in  favor  of  going 
was  hard  work  indeed.  I  had  preached  in  five 
years  and  nine  months  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
sermons,  and  baptised  thirty-four  and  closed  my 
labors  the  last  Sunday  in  the  year." 


LABORS   IN   HACKENSACK,    N.   J. 
XII. 

We  must  now  follow  the  subject  of  our  memoir 
to  Hackensack,  N.  J.,  his  twelfth  pastorate.  He  was 
now  a  veteran  of  seventy-five,  and  yet  vigorous  in 
thought,  energetic  in  delivery,  and  young  in  heart 
and  enterprise  of  spirit.  A  field  demanding  less 
travel  and  exposure,  with  the  preaching  in  one 
pla^e,  had  been  his  desire.  In  this  he  was  now  to 
be  gratified.  There  was  also  special  prospect  of 
doing  a  good  work  in  the  place  opened  to  him, 
since  the  indications  of  providence  seemed  to  point 
with  marked  distinctness  in  the  direction  he  was 
taking. 

Hackensack  is  only  eight  miles  from  Paterson, 
his  second  and  fifth  field  of  labor.  The  Paterson 
Church  had  formerly  had  an  out  station  here,  in 
which  he  had  preached  once  a  month  while  their 
pastor.  A  small  church  had  since  been  organized 
at  Hackensack  but  having  no  house  of  worship  and 
no  stated  pastor,  it  had  dwindled  to  only  two,  a 
true  and  tried  couple,  genuine  Baptists,  who  could 
consistently    be    nothing   else    in    church    relation. 


100  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

These  two  were  in  fellowship  and  could  claim  the 
blessing.  They  waited  in  the  confidence  of  those 
who  trust  in  God  for  the  dawn  of  a  better  day  for 
the  cause.  At  length  one  Baptist  after  another, 
moving  in  from  the  city  of  New  York,  as  the  sub- 
urban growth  was  accelerated,  was  heard  inquiring 
for  a  church.  The  good  Deacon  De  Wolfe  and 
wife  said  to  them  "Yes,  there  is  the  church  in  our 
house,"  and  so  they  received  the  new  comers  by  a 
unanimous  vote  and  the  church  began  to  thrive 
again.  One  step  led  to  another,  till  at  length  the 
work  of  building  a  chapel  was  undertaken  and  a 
call  was  extended  to  this  old  pastor  of  the  family 
to  be  the  first  pastor  of  this  interest.  This  Deacon 
De  Wolfe  said  as  an  encouragement  and  guarantee 
to  the  new  pastor,  "I  will  stand  by  you  if  you 
will  come,  and  be  responsible  for  your  support." 
Hackensack  was  not  a  place  propitious  to  the 
spread  of  distinctive  Baptist  principles.  It  was  set- 
tled originally  by  Hollanders,  long  before  the  War 
of  the  Revolution.  Its  growth  had  been  exceed- 
ingly slow.  In  1833  the  population  numbered  about 
fifteen  hundred  but  in  1871  it  had  increased  to  about 
four  thousand.  It  is  an  important  place,  the  Coun- 
ty seat  of  Bergen  County.  The  religious  educa- 
tion of  the  people  strongly  favored  the  Dutch  or 
Reformed    Church. 


Labors  in  Hackensack.  101 

The  chapel  erected  by  the  Baptist  Church  was 
dedicated  the  last  day  of  the  year  1871,  and  on 
Sunday  the  first  day  of  the  new  year,  the  pastor 
commenced  his  labors  with  them.  The  first  theme 
of  discourse  was,  "The  mutual  relation  of  pastor 
and  people,  what  each  have  a  right  to  expect  of 
the  other." — Acts  10  29. — A  good  audience  was  in 
attendance  at  this  opening  service,  to  give  a  wel- 
come and  encouragement  to  the  man  of  God  in 
his  effort  to  elevate  a  new  standard  among  them. 
Not  a  little  enthusiasm  was  manifested  on  that  day 
and  it  is  believed  a  commendable  ambition  was 
cherished  by  those  who  had  given  their  energies 
to  this  new  venture  in  Hackensack.  It  was  with 
an  ardent  desire  to  lead  this  little  band  of  disci- 
ples into  efficient  service,  and  with  his  old  time 
energy  stirring  within  him  that  Elder  Grenell  en- 
tered upon  the  work  before  him.  It  is  difficult  to 
decide  whether  pastor  or  people  were  the  more 
elated  or  which  cherished  the  more  laudable  am- 
bition  on    that   day. 

The  opening  of  a  new  place  of  worship  was  an 
event  in  the  religious  history  of  Hackensack.  As 
is  common  in  all  such  movements,  the  new  chapel 
and  the  coming  of  the  venerable  preacher  were 
themes  of  conversation  in  many  circles  of  the  com- 
munity.    Could    it   be    that   the    Baptists    would    be 


102  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

successful  in  setting  up  a  standard  in  such  a  strong 
Dutch  Reformed  centre  ?  Many  had  a  curiosity  to 
go  to  the  neat  little  chapel  and  many  wished  to 
hear  the  new  minister.  They  were  all  welcomed 
to  the  house  of  God,  kindly  waited  upon  by  offi- 
cers of  the  church  to  seats,  treated  to  good  singing 
and  taught  from  the  oracles  of  Divine  truth.  In  this 
new  sanctuary,  every  true  worshipper  felt  that  this 
was  none  other  than  the  "House  of  God  and  gate 
of  Heaven."  And  there  was  drawn  to  the  little 
chapel  a  gradually  increasing  congregation,  who 
were  edified  and  charmed  by  the  power  of  the  pul- 
pit. From  this  sanctuary  sounded  out  the  word 
of  God.  The  trumpet  here  gave  no  uncertain  sound. 
The  people  continued  to  come,  and  the  labors 
of  the  "old  man  eloquent,"  ever  in  earnest,  were 
not  only  properly  appreciated  but  enthusiastically 
praised. 

This  ministry  was  in  its  opening  efforts  and  for 
many  months  a  grand  success.  His  auditors  were 
many  of  them  drawn  from  the  Dutch  residents  of 
the  village  and  some  of  the  converts  won  to  the 
Baptist  faith  and  buried  with  Christ  in  baptism 
were  from  the  same  source.  And  when  the  initia- 
tory ordinance  was  administered,  in  the  baptistery 
under  the  pulpit  platform,  in  accordance  with  the 
faith    of  Baptist   Churches,   crowds   were   attracted 


Labors  is  Hackensack.  103 

to  the  service.  The  house  on  such  occasions  would 
be  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity.  And  then  "the 
reasons  for  the  practice  of  immersion,"  "the  glory 
of  gospel  Baptism,"  or  some  theme  of  the  kind 
would  be  presented.  Example  and  precept  were 
then  blended  and  set  before  the  people.  Each 
auditor  was  furnished  with  the  means  of  deciding 
for  himself  the  requirement  made  by  Christ  in 
the    ordinance. 

"As  a  wise  master  builder,"  Elder  Grenell  laid 
here  a  firm  foundation  under  the  guidance  of  the 
Great  Builder,  upon  which  might  be  reared  in  fu- 
ture years  a  magnificent  superstructure.  His  care 
and  over  sight  extended  to  every  department  of 
church  work.  He  was  zealous  for  the  missionary 
development  of  the  new  interest  and  had  an  eye 
to  financial  affairs.  He  urged  his  brethren  to  use 
all  reasonable  precaution  against  incurring  a  large 
debt  and  advised  them  to  make  earnest  efforts  to 
extinguish  the  indebtedness  incurred  in  the  erection 
of  the  house.  In  his  pulpit  ministrations  he  brought 
continually  to  the  people  rich  stores  of  Gospel 
truth  for  their  edification  and  encouragement.  Nor 
were  the  sick  and  infirm  neglected  in  his  efforts 
for  the  good  of  others.  They  shared  largely  in 
his   Christian   sympathy  and    pastoral    efforts. 

Some   one   has  said,  "There   are  always  two  sides 


104  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

to  a  story."  Much  of  truth  appears  in  the  saying", 
owing  to  the  different  stand-points  of  the  parties. 
In  relation  to  many  events  in  life  there  are  half 
a  dozen  sides  or  more,  and  each  has  its  adherent. 
Some  incidents,  if  not  necessary  to  a  truthful  his- 
tory, may  with  propriety  be  left  out  of  a  sketch 
of  this  kind.  Every  item  in  the  account  is  not  of 
importance  to  the  general  reader,  nor  can  every 
thing  be  seen  from  only  one  point  of  observation. 
So,  without  the  least  intention  of  saying  a  word 
that  could  wound  the  feelings  of  the  most  sensitive, 
we  may  admit  there  was  ''another  side"  to  these 
labors  in  Hackensack.  And  yet,  all  that  may  be 
said  does  not  detract  in  the  least  from  the  general 
features  already  presented.  There  are  often  anxie- 
ties, mortifications  and  despondencies  in  the  mind 
of  a  pastor  unknown  to  his  people  and  not  re- 
vealed in  his  work.  If  these  result  mainly  from 
over  sensitiveness  or  are  the  children  of  the  imag- 
ination, they  are  real  to  him  and  terribly  destruct- 
ive of  peace  of  mind  and  rest  of  soul.  It  is  not 
impossible  but  that  brethren  in  the  church  failed 
to  appreciate  the  feelings  of  a  pastor  in  the  many 
annoyances  incident  to  the  relation.  It  may  be  that 
even  here  some  did  not  show  proper  deference  to 
a  pastor,  **  whose  gray  hairs  were  a  constant  and 
scriptural  appeal  to  their  consideration." 


Labors  ik  IIackexsack.  105 

There  is  almost  no  limit  to  the  endurance  of  a 
pastor  in  labor  for  a  sympathizing,  confiding  and 
co-operative  people.  And  should  not  every  man 
of  God  have  these  environments  in  his  work  ?  Are 
they  not  his  due  as  an  ambassador  of  Christ,  so 
far  as  his  labors  are  in  accord  with  the  instruction 
of  the  Master?  The  man  who  permits  the  harness 
to  chafe  and  gall  his  horse,  suffers  real  loss  of  serv- 
ice, while  at  the  same  time  he  proclaims  his  lack 
of  mercy.  Should  not  every  church  make  the  most 
they  can,  by  a  confiding  co-operation  and  affec- 
tionate encouragement  in  all  his  ministrations,  out 
of  a  pastors  labors.-* 

The  anticipations  cherished  when  he  accepted  the 
call  to  Hackensack  were  not  realized.  These  were 
of  a  quiet  and  pleasant  field  of  labor,  of  a  final 
settlement  for  the  rest  of  his  ministry  and  so  long 
as  able  to  fulfill  its  requirements,  and  of  a  cordial 
co-operation  of  his  people  under  his  leadership  in 
carrying  out  all  his  plans  for  the  enlargement  of 
Zion.  He  thought  himrself  restrained  in  his  w^ork 
and  not  as  free  as  one  of  his  age  and  experience 
ought  to  be.  He  had  invested  all  he  possessed  in 
a  modest  home  for  his  declining  years  or  he  would, 
at  a  certain  time,  have  taken  his  departure.  He 
gathered  that  some  were  anxious  for  a  change  of 
pastor  at  the   end  of  three  years  and  feared   an  old 


106  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

man  might  be  left  on  their  hands,  unable  to  fill 
acceptably  the  pulpit  and  discharge  the  other  duties 
of  the  office.  There  were  no  indications  of  fail- 
ure apparent.  His  feelings  and  energies  were  those 
of  a  young  man,  both  in  the  pulpit  and  in  obedi- 
ence to  other  calls  of  duty.  Great  perplexity  of 
soul  was  caused  and  many  annoyances  arose  from 
such  causes.  And  yet  no  one  was  really  dissatis- 
fied with  his  labors  as  pastor  or  wished  to  inflict 
a  wound  upon  his  feeling.  It  is  probable  that 
rumor  and  misconstruction  of  little  things  had  un- 
fortunately much  to  do  with  such  an  unhappy  state 
of  mind. 

The  writer  will  throw  in  here  an  item  of  testi- 
mony gained  incidentally  from  a  citizen  of  Hack- 
ensack,  more  than  a  year  after  the  death  of  Elder 
Grenell.  Being  asked  if  he  knew  him,  he  replied; 
"Did  I  know  Father  Grenell.''  I  guess  I  did. 
He  did  a  work  in  Hackensack  that  no  other  man 
ever  did." 

When  a  minister  has  been  for  three  score  years 
in  the  \v:ork  and  has  faithfully  served  his  genera- 
tion, it  would  appear  that  he  should  be  spared  the 
specially  marring  troubles  which  may  fall  to  the 
untried  and  unknown  servant.  Why  it  should  be 
otherwise,  as  is  too  frequently  the  case,  is  one  of 
the  mysteries  of  providence   not  yet  solved. 


Labors  in  IIackensack.  lOT 

Would  not  the  added  wisdom  and  experience 
brought  to  the  ministration  of  the  sanctuary,  rich- 
ly repay  a  people  for  a  uniform  kindness  and  forbear- 
ance shown  to  a  venerable  servant  of  God,  and  give 
them  honor  in  the  community  ? 

Of  old  Moses  spake  unadvisedly  with  his  lips. 
It  was  under  the  annoyances  and  perplexities  that 
irritated  him.  So  did  this  servant  of  the  Lord  give 
vent  to  the  indignation  of  his  soul  in  an  unbe- 
coming manner  and  cast  censure  where  it  did  not 
belong.  He  quietly  waited  a  time,  brooded  over 
the  evil,  preached  a  scathing  sermon  on  a  Sunday 
evening  and  peremptorily  closed  his  labors.  His 
text  was  the  language  of  our  Lord  to  Peter,  John 
21  :  i8. 

It  is  pleasant  to  say  and  to  the  honor  of  the 
good  people  of  this  society,  that  good  feeling  and 
fraternal  intercourse  were  restored.  Many  acts  of 
kindness  were  shown  by  them  in  attestation  of 
their  confidence  and  interest  in  him.  Here  was  to 
to  be  his  last  earthly  home  and  among  this  peo- 
ple he  was  destined  to  pass  gently  down  the  slope 
of  life  to  the  rest  remaining  for  him  in  heaven. 

His  term  of  service  with  this  people  was  three 
years  and  three  months.  He  baptized  into  the 
fellowship  of  the  church  twenty  persons,  and  preach- 
ed   five    hundred    and   fiftv    sermons.      At    the    com- 


108  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

mencement  of  his   labors  here   the  church  number- 
ed  twenty-eight    at  the    close,   seventy-three. 

"Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the  son,  and 
to  th-e  Holy  Spirit:  as  it  was  in  the  beginning,  is 
now   and  ever  shall  be,  world  without  end.     Amen. 


XIII. 

LABORS   WITH   THE   PATERSON   THIRD   CHURCH. 

From  the  last  of  March,  until  late  in  the  fall  of 
1875,  Elder  Grenell  held  no  pastoral  relation.  It 
seemed  at  times  to  be  fully  settled  in  his  mind 
that  on  account  of  his  age  and  the  infirmities  that  were 
coming  upon  him,  he  would  not  again  assume  the 
duties  of  a  pastor.  And  yet  he  was  not  content 
to  settle  down  in  the  quiet  enjoyment  of  his  home, 
and  patiently  wait  the  time  of  his  departure.  He 
had  preached  so  many  years  that  when  Sunday 
came  he  felt  lost  and  out  of  place  if  not  in  the 
pulpit,  with  an  audience  before  him.  His  thoughts 
ran  much  in  the  line  of  sermons,  and  the  laying 
out  of  some  new  subject  or  the  recast  of  an  old 
discourse  that  had  done  service  years  before. 
Wherever  a  door  was  open  and  the  call  extended 
to  supply  a  destitute  church  he  was  ready  to 
respond. 

During  a  portion  of  the  summer,  in  company  with  his 
wife,  he  went  to  see  his  son  Zelotes,  in  Bay  City, 
Michigan.  On  the  way  the}'  visited  scxcral  of  his 
children  and    grand    children,  and    spent    an    entire 


no  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

month  with  old  and  tried  friends  in  different  locali- 
ties. Each  Sabbath  there  was  a  pulpit  opened  to 
him  and  he  was  ready  to  gratify  his  former  friends 
and  parishioners  by  delivering  the  Gospel  message 
to  them.  And  in  Bay  City  there  was  an  open  door 
among  the  destitute  and  in  the  pulpit  of  his  son's 
church.  While  he  and  his  family  were  on  a  journey 
to  the  east,  he  found  work  that  was  exceedingly 
agreeable  to  him.  But  being  urgently  invited  to 
be  present  at  the  Jubilee  meeting  of  the  Paterson 
Church,  of  which  he  had  twice  been  pastor,  and 
perform  a  part  of  the  services,  his  visit  was  terminat- 
ed much  sooner  than  he  had  anticipated.  He 
hastened  back  to  the  social  enjoyments  and  religious 
festivities  in  his  old  field  of  labor,  and  afterward 
supplied  the  Millington  church  one  month,  during 
the  absence  of  the  pastor  on  a  visit  to  his  old  home 
in  Scotland.  Before  this  he  became  somewhat 
acquainted  with  the  Third  Baptist  Church  of  Pat- 
erson. It  was  without  a  pastor,  exceedingly  feeble 
and  presented  a  field  of  promise  and  yet  of  self- 
sacrifice  to  the  laborer.  He  concluded  to  accept  an 
urgent  call  extended  to  him  to  undertake  once 
more  the  work  to  which  he  had  so  long  devoted 
himself.  This  relation  was  formed  in  the  month  of 
November,  but  he  had  supplied  them  during  the 
month  of  October.     "He  called  himself  a  permanent 


Paterson    Third  Church.  ill 

supply,"  but  was,  in  fact  and  by  the  voice  of  the 
people,  pastor.  The  connection  was  to  continue  in 
accordance  with  the  opening  of  Providence  and 
his  ability  to  continue  the  work.  He  at  once  as- 
sumed all  the  duties  of  an  overseer  of  the  flock 
and    responded    to   every    call   for    pastoral    service. 

His  first  pulpit  effort  after  the  formation  of  this 
relation  was  from  the  text,  (2  Cor.  12:14)  "Behold 
the  third  time  I  am  ready  to  come  to  you:  and  I 
will  not  be  burdensome  to  you:  for  I  seek  not 
yours,  but  you."  This  interest  was  a  child  of  the 
First  Baptist  Society  and  had  been  recognized  as 
an  independent  church  a  little  over  a  year.  Hence, 
quite  a  number  of  his  former  flock  were  gathered 
into  this  fold.  In  this  sense  he  was  ''coming:  the 
third  time"  to  the  same  people  as  a  messenger  of 
the  Most  High. 

With  the  earnestness  and  energy  of  a  young 
man  he  took  hold  of  the  feeble  interest.  His  quiver 
was  yet  full  of  arrows  and  his  bow  abobe  in  strength- 

A  ripe  age  and  rich  experience  were  also  brought 
to  the  work.  He  ardently  desired  to  see  the  work 
of  the  Lord  prosper  in  his  hands  on  this,  as  it  had 
in  other  fields  of  labor. 

The  first  winter 'was  a  trying  one  to  the  pastor, 
since  his  residence  was  in  Hackensack,and  he  was 
under  the  necessity  of  travelliug  on  the  Rail-Road 


112-  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

in  going  to  and  from  his  appointments.  He  usually 
went  on  Saturday  and  returned  on  Monday.  He 
had  a  good  home  and  kind  treatment  when  absent 
from  his  own  home  and  was  the  recipient  of  many 
tokens  of  kindness  from  his  people.  But  so  feeble,  in 
a  pecuniary  sense,  did  he  find  the  church,  that  fre- 
qently  he  supplied  the  pulpit  of  some  destitute 
church  and  gave  them  the  amount  realized  over  his 
stipulated  salary.  In  this  way  he  aided  them  in 
carrying  the  burden   laid  upon  them. 

In  the  spring  he  moved  his  family  to  Paterson> 
and  resided  near  the  place  of  meeting.  His  work 
was  then  near  at  hand  and  more  easily  performed- 
He  continued  to  feed  the  flock,  to  foster  the  feeble 
church,  and  to  lead  others  to  the  knowledge  of 
Christ.  There  were  also  from  time  to  time  a  few 
gathered  into  the  fellowship  of  Zion.  During  one 
year  he  baptized  eight  and  in  all  the  years  of  his 
labor  here,  twenty-six.  There  was  a  gradual  increase, 
so  that  the  society  nearly  doubled  in  membership 
and  correspondingly  gained  in  ability.  It  was  his 
last  and  closing  field  of  labor,  all  through  a  quiet 
and  peaceful  one,  and  his  resignation  was  given  in 
the  fall  of  1 88 1,  with  the  resolution  formed  not 
again  to  undertake  the  work. 

At  the  close  of  this  pastoral  relation,  he  retired 
to  his  own   modest  home  at  Hackensack  with   the 


Paterson  Third  Church.  ^13 

intention  of  supplying  destitute  pulpits  when  his 
strength  should  be  adequate  to  the  exertion  de- 
manded and  such  opportunities  of  usefulness  might 
be  presented  to  him.  In  this  way  he  expected  to 
spend  his  declining  days,  and  "wait  all  his  appoint- 
ed time,"  for  his  discharge.  Opportunities  of  the 
kind  were  not  wanting,  and  wherever  he  officiated 
the  surprise  was  both  general  and  marked,  that  a 
man  of  his  years  could  yet  preach  with  such  energy 
of  delivery  and  clearness  of  thought  as  were  mani- 
fested in  his  pulpit  efforts.  At  times  he  was  "the 
old  man  eloquent,"  in  these  last  efforts  of  his  life. 
Some  went  long  distances  to  hear  the  old  friend  of 
their  fathers  and  veteran  in  the  service  preach, 
and  returned  delighted  and  profited  by  the  sermons 
they  heard.  But  only  a  few  months  were  allotted 
to  him  in  this  service.  In  the  following  spring  he 
supplied  the  First  Wantage  Church  several  Sabbaths. 
Here  he  performed  his  last  successful  labor  in  the 
pulpit  to  the  edification  of  the  hearer  but  with 
great  exhaustion  of  his  physical  strength.  In  July 
the  hand  of  disease  was  laid  upon  him.  He  was 
entirely  incapacitated  for  the  performance  of  minis- 
terial duties.  His  work  was  done.  There  re- 
mained less  than  a  year  of  life  to  him  and 
that  to  be  spent  within  his  own  home.  Administer-^ 
ed    to     by     loved     ones,     he     gradually     declined 


114  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

in  strength  till  removed  by  the  hand  of  death. 
Here  must  close  the  sketch  of  his  labors  in  the 
ministry.  What  shall  the  closing  sentence  of  the 
narrative  be  ?  What  more  becoming  at  the  close 
of  a  public  life  of  sixty-five  years,  than  the  expres- 
sion, ''Well  done  good  and  faithful   Servant.?" 


XIV. 

SICKNESS,    DECLINE    AND    DEATH. 

We  now  come  to  the  last  and  closing  scene  in 
the  life  of  this  servant  of  God.  Our  Savior  said : 
**I  leave  the  world  and  go  to  the  Father."  So  must 
every  servant  of  His  leave  the  world  as  a  scene 
of  conflict  and  go  where  his  Redeemer  has  gone. 
And  Paul  affirms:  "  David,  having  served  his  genera- 
tion according  to  the  purpose  of  God,  fell  asleep 
and  was  added  to  his  Fathers."  Elder  Grenell  had 
"served  his  generation  according  to  the  purpose  of 
God."  It  only  remained,  at  the  close  of  such  a  day 
of  toil,  that  he  "fall  asleep  and  be  added  to"  the 
company  above.  How  sad  the  reflection  that  such 
an  issue  sunders  all  the  relationships  of  this  life  ; 
but  how  glorious  the  result  to  the  weary  and  worn 
laborer,  taken  away  from  earth  and  added  to  the 
redeemed  in  the  presence  of  God. 

The  scantiness  of  m.aterial  for  this  part  of  our 
effort  fills  us  with  apprehension  of  failure.  Very 
little  is  left  on  record  from  which  we  can  draw 
material  to  picture  him  descending  the  slope  of 
life    into    the   silence    of  the    grave.     We    natupally 


116  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

wish  to  look  within  the  man,  at  such  a  time, 
through  some  door  that  is  left  ajar.  We  desire  to 
know  the  musings  of  the  soul  as  it  converses  with 
death  and  gains  by  faith  a  view  of  the  unseen. 
Here  must  the  true  life  be,  within  the  man,  in  the 
emotions  and  aspirations  of  the  soul.  And  here 
the  conditions  of  happiness  are  to  be  found  in  the 
''full  assurance  of  hope"  as  ''an  anchor  to  the 
soul,  sure  and  stedfast"  in  the  storm,  but  holding 
to  the  rock  of  eternal  safety  "within  the  veil." 
Could  we  only  read  and  rightly  interpret  the  writ- 
ing of  the  Eternal  Spirit  on  the  tablet  of  the  soul, 
how  easy  the   task  before   us. 

He  had  said,  in  anticipation  of  the  end,  "  I  wish 
to  follow  the  cloud  and  preach  as  long  as  I  am 
wanted  and  the  Lord  gives  me  strength,  and  freely 
resign  when  his  providence  shall  dictate."  The 
time  had  now  come  for  him  to  resign,  to  give  back 
to  God  the  commission  given  to  him  sixty-seven 
years  before,  and  with  it  his  life  and  labors.  The 
time  also  was  near  for  him  to  peacefully  resign 
himself  to  death  as  the  end  of  life  and  door  to  eter- 
nal rest.  He  did  thus  give  up  all  his  concerns 
into  the  hand  of  God  and  commit  himself  unto  a 
faithful  Creator.  To  the  writer  he  said  in  reference 
to  the  severe  attack  of  sickness  he  had  endured: 
"  I   knew  that  I  was  very  sick,  and  the  first  concern 


Sickness,  Decline  and  Death.  117 


was  about  myself:  will  I  get  well?  Then  the 
thought  came:  ''It  is  none  of  your  business ^  and 
my  anxiety  was  gone."  He  resigned  himself  to 
God  and  in  quietness  and  assurance  of  soul 
patiently  waited  for  his  change  to  come.  At  an- 
other time  he  said :  *'  However  much  I  may  be 
wrong,  or  whatever  may  become  of  me,  God  is 
all  right.  There  is  no  error  or  imperfection  in  Him. 
I  know  he  does  all  things  well."  How  grand  such 
an  utterance  from  the  lips  of  a  servant  of  God, 
when  prostrate  on  a  bed  of  sickness  and  helpless 
as  a  child !  He  justified  the  ways  of  God  and 
"ascribed  righteousness  to  his  Maker."  And  there 
remained,  so  long  as  reason  was  on  the  throne 
and  the  power  of  memory  was  not  impaired  by 
disease,  this  peaceful  acquiescence  in  the  will  of 
God.  No  murmur  escaped  his  lips,  no  complaint 
was  uttered.  The  restless  man  of  life  was  the  quiet 
child  in  the  mother's  arms. 

His  last  effort  to  preach  was  at  Millington,  the 
first  Sabbath  in  July,  1882.  He  had  preached  a 
few  weeks  previous  to  this,  with  great  acceptance 
to  the  people  but  with  an  almost  entire  exhaustion 
to  himself,  at  First  Wantage.  He  was  not  adequate 
in  physical  energy  to  this  last  venture.  Disease 
was  already  fastened  upon  him.  He  felt  within 
himself  unable  to   perform  the   task,  but  regard  for 


118  Elder  Zelotes  G  renell. 

the  people  led  him  to  make  the  effort.  The  old 
time  energy  was  not  within  him.  It  was  apparent 
to  his  former  parishioners  that  neither  in  mind  nor 
in  body  was  he  himself.  He  was  taken  from  the 
Sanctuary  to  the  home  of  a  brother  near,  violently 
sick.  A  physician  was  at  once  summoned  and  all 
that  medical  attention  and  kind  christian  friends 
could  do  was  cheerfully  done  to  relieve  the  sufferer. 
He  was  alarmingly  ill  for  several  days,  but  on  the 
fifth  day  was  so  much  relieved  that  he  could  be 
tiken  to  his  home  at  Hackensack.  Here  he  was 
confined  to  his  bed  for  a  number  of  weeks,  and 
all  hope  of  recovery,  for  a  time,  seemed  to  have 
fled.  But  he  continued  to  live,  began  to  show 
signs  of  improving  and  of  coming  back  to  the  en- 
joyments and  activities  of  life.  He  gained  in 
strength  until  he  could  w^alk  a  mile.  He  talked 
of  anticipated  visits  to  his  children,  and  seemed  to 
have  an  abiding  interest  in  all  that  he  heard  of 
the  prosperity  of  the  churches.  But  toward  spring 
the  balance  began  to  tip  the  other  way  and  there 
was  an  apparent  decline  from  week  to  week.  He 
had  earnestly  desired  to  visit  his  son  at  Deckertown^ 
and  see  the  new  church  edifice  recently  erected 
there.  He  was  compelled  to  forego  the  anticipated 
visit  on  account  of  increasing  weakness.  There 
was  a  general  decline  and   failure  of  all  his  powers, 


Sickness,  Declinb  and  Death.  119 

both  of  body  and  mind.  The  body  became  exceed- 
ingly weak  and  emaciated,  the  mind  wandering 
and  in  perplexity.  There  was  only  the  wreck  of 
the  man  of  active  life.  The  time  of  release  was 
drawing  nigh,  and  he  quietly  passed  away,  just  after 
midnight,  June  21,  1883.  There  was  no  alarm  given, 
no  word  spoken,  only  a  perceptible  change  and 
in  a  few  moments  the  scene  was  ended.  He  was 
no  more.  "Absent  from  the  body,  present  with  the 
Lord'. 

Many  incidents  of  these  last  weeks  of  his  life  were 
especially  tender  and  touching  in  their  appeal  to 
the  hearts  of  loved  ones.  Could  they  all  be  col- 
lected and  put  in  order  before  the  reader,  a  long 
chapter  would  be  required.  But  they  belong  to 
those  in  the  inner  circle,  who  waited  upon  him, 
watched  his  decline  and  tenderly  anticipated  all 
his  wants.  For  the  comfort  of  his  many  friends 
only  a  few  items  need  be  added.  One  of  these  is 
his  devotion  to  the  Bible  and  his  fidelity  to  the 
family  altar  as  long  as  he  was  able  to  ofificiate. 
And  when  too  much  reduced  in  strength  to  per- 
form the  duty,  his  pastor,  or  any  minister  of  the 
Gospel  or  private  member  coming  in  to  visit 
him,  was  invited  to  offer  prayer.  Toward  the 
last,  he  requested  th«  one  offering  prayer  to  stand 
by   the   bed   and   hold    his   hand   while   addressing 


120  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

God  in  his  behalf.  This  was  done  when  the  ear 
could  with  difficulty  distinguish  the  difference  in 
sounds.  He  greatly  enjoyed  those  seasons  of  devo- 
tion and  seemed  to  be  lifted  in  thought  to  the  bet- 
ter home   above. 

His  child-like  acquiescence  in  the  directions  of 
the  physician  and  conformity  to  the  wish  of  attend- 
ants was  remarkable.  "All  right,"  was  his  frank 
expression,  with  a  tenderness  that  often  started  the 
tear  to  the  eye,  so  submissive  was  he,  so  like  a 
child.  **It  was  wonderful,"  as  remarked  by  the 
physician,  and  '*  I  never  saw  the  like  before."  And 
only  for  a  few  days  did  he  appear  troubled  in  mind 
and  not  like  himself.  As  he  had  lived  in  Christ, 
so  did  he  die  in  Him  and  depart  to  be  with  his 
living  Redeemer.  **  The  children  of  God  shall  ever 
live  in  their  Father's  house,  and  eat  at  their  Father's 
table." 

The  funeral  services  were  held  on  Monday, 
June  25th,  in  the  Baptist  Chapel  of  Hackensack, 
under  the  derection  of  the  pastor.  Rev.  R.  M.  Harrison. 
An  anthem  and  hymns  were  sung  by  the  choir, 
prayers  were  offered  by  Rev.  A.  Hopper  and 
Rev.  J.  N.  Adams,  and  addresses  were  made  by  Rev. 
W.  W.  Everts,  D  .D.  and  Rev.  W.  H.  Parmly,  D-  D. 
Doctor  Everts  spoke  of  the  "blessedness  of  the 
dead   who  die    in  the    Lord,"    and    Doctor    Parmly 


Sickness,  Decline  and  Death.  121 

gave  reminiscences  of  his  early  ministry  in  New 
Jersey,  and  his  relations  to  the  ministry  and  churches 
of  the  State.  The  remains  were  then  borne  to 
Cedar  Lawn  Cemetery,  near  Paterson,  New  Jersey, 
and  interred.  He  rests  there  in  hope  of  the 
resurrection  to  immortal  life.  **  He  that  believeth  in 
me  though  he  were  dead  yet   shall    he   live." 


XV. 

COTEMPORARIES. 

-  During  the  early  years  of  his  ministry  Elder  Grenell 
occupied  a  prominent  position  among  a  group  of 
men  distinguished  alike  for  their  mental  endow- 
ments, the  strength  of  their  convictions,  and  the 
wide  spread  influence  exerted  by  them.  The  mem- 
ory of  some  of  those  venerable  servants  of  God 
still  lingers  as  a  fragrance  in  the  hearts  of  the  fathers 
of  our  day,  but  others  have  passed  almost  entirely 
from  the  recollection  of  all  now  living.  Soon  they 
will  all  be  forgotten  on  earth,  and  their  record  re- 
main only  on  high.  The  mention  of  the  names  of 
some  of  them,  and  their  time  of  service,  leads  us 
to  venerate  them  as  devoted  ministers  of  the  Gos- 
pel, and  we  recognize  the  hand  of  God  in  raising 
them  up  and  endowing  them  so  richly  for  their 
work.  They  were  true  and  tried  men.  They  nobly 
met  the  demands  of  the  age  in  which  they  lived. 
These  men  were  sent  into  the  ministry  without 
the  training  and  culture  of  the  schools.  They  made 
no  pretension  to  scholastic  education.  Some  of 
them  regretted  exceedingly  that  advantages  of  this 


Cot  EM  POR  ARIES.  123 

kind  had  not  been  given  to  them.  But  they  were 
endowed  with  a  vigor  and  grasp  of  intellect,  had 
gained  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  word  of 
God,  and,  with  a  burning  desire  to  see  the  religion 
of  Christ  spread  through  the  world,  were  possessed 
of  a  power  in  the  ministry  seldom  excelled  in 
our  day.  In  temporal  matters  they  depended  large- 
ly upon  their  own  toil.  They  held  the  plow,  ''lifted 
up  the  axe  upon  the  high  trees,"  planted  and  gath- 
ered their  sustenance  from  the  earth,  but  their  thought 
and  study  meantime  were  on  things  higher  than 
those  of  this  life.  They  were  daily  students  of  the 
Bible,  sought  wisdom  and  spiritual  insight  from  God 
and  gained  an  unction  from  the  Holy  One.  When 
they  went  to  the  log  cabin,  to  the  school  house  or 
grove  to  deliver  the  message  of  eternal  truth  they 
spake  as  one  coming  from  the  immediate  presence 
of  God.  Saints  were  edified  and  sinners  convin- 
ced of  the  reality  and  claim  of  religion. 

Association  with  such  men  is  a  powerful  influ- 
ence for  good.  It  gives  inspiration  to  a  young 
minister  and  decides  in  a  great  degree  the  character 
and  efficiency  of  his  efforts.  He  is  moulded  and 
developed  by  intercourse  and  contact  Avith  them. 
In  some  things  he  is  led  to  imitate  another,  in 
other  things  to  shun  a  folly  or  strive  for  an  oppo- 
site  excellence.     The   associational    gathering   was 


124  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

then  a  prominent  meeting  and  many  of  the  "Elders 
and  brethren"  came  to  it  as  to  a  rich  feast.  Min- 
isters mingled  together  as  brethren  of  the  same  house- 
hold, greeted  each  other  "with  a  warmth  and  god- 
ly sincerity"  which  has  not  been  increased  by  half 
a  century  of  progress.  There  was  much  preaching 
in  those  gatherings,  and  but  little  of  the  routine  of 
business.  It  is  even  recorded,"  No  person  was  ap- 
pointed previously  to  deliver  the  annual  sermon  in 
those  early  days."  When  assembled  some  one  by 
general  desire  or  invitation  of  the  officers  of  the 
body,  or  pastor  of  the  church,  preached  the  opening 
sermon,  and  four  or  five  others  followed  during  the 
meeting.  Such  a  meeting  was  an  educational  force 
as  well  as  a  social  and  fraternal  influence  to  a  young 
minister.  These  Elder  Grenell  often  acknowledged 
to  have  been  of  great  benefit  to  himself,  especially 
in  the  earlier  part  of  his  ministry.  His  testimony 
has  been  left  in  his  own  words:  "My  great  pulpit 
help  was  in  attending  associations,  from  one  to  five 
a  year.  Abington,  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Hudson 
River,  Franklin,  and  others  more  remote.  Both  in 
a  literal  and  theological  sense  these  were  means 
of  improvement.  I  felt  I  carried  home  a  full  com- 
pensation for  time  and  expense." 

Among  those    early    associated    with    the    subject 
of   this    sketch,  in    the    Warwick    Association    was 


COTEMPORARIES.  125 

Henry  Ball  then  pastor  at  Brookfield,  with  a  church 
of  three  hundred  and  forty  members.  He  was  in 
the  strength  of  his  manhood,  an  able  minister  of 
the  Gospel,  of  good  report  among  all  his  associates, 
and  one  who  openly  advocated  the  missionary  agen- 
cies of  the  denomination.  He  was  a  friend  and 
counselor  of  the  young  minister  and  ever  cherished 
for  him  an   abiding  affection. 

Another  of  those  worthies  was  Aaron  Perkins, 
whose  clear  and  logical  method  in  preaching,  first  gave 
to  Elder  Grenell  the  idea  of  system  in  the  arrange- 
ment of  a  sermon,  and  suggested  "the  plan  of  a 
discourse  and  the  classification  of  ideas."  He  was 
a  good  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  devoted  and  true 
to  the  demands  of  the  time  for  religious  efforts  in 
the  extension  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ.  He  lived 
to  an  advanced  age  and  was  gathered  as  a  ripe 
sheaf  into  the  garner.  Often  was  his  name  mentioned 
as  one  who  had  contributed  greatly  to  his  benefit 
in   these  early  associations. 

In  this  list  we  may  also  include  the  name  of  Gilbert 
Beebe,  during  several  years  of  his  ministry  in  Orange, 
New  York.  For  a  number  of  years  there  was  an 
intimacy  and  fraternal  fellowship  existing  between 
him  and  Elder  Grenell  seldom  surpassed.  They 
traveled  together,  slept  together,  and  preached 
n  the  same   meetings.     On   the    great   doctrines    of 


126  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

salvation  by  vicarious  atonement,  they  were  one  in 
view.  On  the  ordinances  and  order  of  the  church 
they  also  agreed.  But  on  the  doctrine  of  moral 
obligation  and  missionary  agencies  they  differed. 
It  was  but  a  little  difference' at  first,  but  the  farther 
the  lines  were  run  the  wider  apart  did  they  become. 
There  was  a  season  of  argument  and  contention 
for  the  faith.  The  result  was  a  separation,  but  with 
a  mutual  feeling  of  respect  the  one  for  the  other. 
Elder  Beebe  became  the  leader  of  the  Old  School 
party,  openly  opposing  the  missionary  and  other 
benevolent  agencies  of  the  church,  and  Elder  Grenell 
held  to  and  advocated  them  all  as  included  in 
the  great  commission  given  by  Christ  to  the  church. 
These  two  men  became  wide  apart  in  their  efforts 
but  ever  retained  for  each  other  a  mutual  esteem. 
Then  comes  the  name  of  Thomas  Teasdale  Senior 
the  devoted  pastor  of  Hamburgh,  Benjamin  Montanye 
the  former  preacher  of  Deerpark,  Levi  Hall,  hold- 
ing "God  has  connected  the  means  with  the  end, " 
pastor  of  First  Wantage,  Philander  Gillette,  leader 
of  the  flock  at  Warwick,  and  others,  each  with  his 
peculiar  gift  and  in  his  own  way  doing  service  for 
the  Master.  These  were  all  watchmen  on  the  wall 
hearing  the  voice  of  God,  and  warning  the  people 
for  Him.  The  influence  of  these  men,  and  results 
of  their  labors,  have  come  down   as  a   benediction 


COTEMPORARIES.  1*27 

upon  the  churches  of  our  time.  It  was  a  ^reat 
blessing  to  Elder  Grenell  that  associations  were 
given  him  with  such  men  in  the  early  part  of  his 
ministry. 

And  as  we  extend  the  circle  of  acquaintance, 
and*  follow  him  to  other  fields  of  labor  in  like 
associations,  where  shall  we  stop.-*  He  attended  so 
many  associations,  had  such  pleasant  relations  with 
his  brethren  in  the  ministry,  met  so  often  with 
them  and  discussed  the  questions  arising  for  con- 
templation thatthe  boundaries  of  the  circle  can  hardly 
be  determined  now.  Many  had  a  beneficent  influ- 
ence on  him  and  his  ministry  w^iile  at  the  same  time 
he  was  a  power  for  good  to  others.  In  New  York 
City  the  names  of  William  Parkinson,  Charles  Somers, 
Duncan  Dunbar,  and  Spencer  H.  Cone  stand  in  the 
early  part  of  his  ministry  in  Paterson  and  New  York. 
After  these  were  Daniel  Dodge,  John  Dowling,  David 
Benedict,  Samuel  White,  W.  W.  Everts,  Thomas 
Armitage,  and  W.  H.  Parmly,  and  perhaps  many 
others  unknown,  in  this  relation,  to  the  writei".  His 
intercourse  and  associations  with  ministers  and  many 
laymen  were  very  extensive  and  remarkably  frater- 
nal. In  the  Abington  Association  he  had  many 
friends  and  admirers.  He  often  attended  this  asso- 
ciation from  1 8 19  to  the  close  of  his  ministry,  and 
took  council    with    Elder   John    Miller,  C.    A.  Fox, 


1 28  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

Henry  Curtis,  and  Deacon  Grennell  of  Clinton.  Other 
associations  and  names  mij^ht  be  added  to  this,  but 
for  want  of  definite  information  no  record  can  be 
intelligently  made  here. 

Life,  it  has  been  said,  consists  in  harmony  with 
one's  environments.  There  must  be  the  organism, 
the  surroundings  and  the  receptivity,  in  order  to  a 
true  life,  considered  either  m  its  own  growth  or 
influence  for  good  on  others.  There  were  pleasant 
and  profitable  surroundings  given  to  this  servant  of 
Christ  through  all  the  years  of  his  public  life.  He 
possessed  the  organism  that  could  adjust  itself  to 
its  surroundings  and  develop  a  high  type  of  growth 
and  usefulness.  In  his  harmony  with  environments 
was  one  source  of  his  enjoyment  and  usefulness  in 
the  work  of  his  life.  In  the  order  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence, these  associations  had  an  educational  value, 
and  contributed  greatly  to  his  usefulness  in  the 
ministry. 


XVI. 

AS   A   MAN   AND   AS   A   PREACHER. 

''  All  power  in  heaven  and  on  earth,"  is  given  to 
the  ascended  Christ.  In  the  exercise  of  that  power 
he  carries  forward  his  work  by  calling,  qualifying, 
and  sending  forth  laborers  into  the  harvest-field  of 
the  world.  In  the  beginning*'  He  gave  some,  apostles; 
and  some,  prophets; and  some,  evangelists;  and  some, 
pastors  and*  teachers,  for  the  perfecting  of  the  saints, 
for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  for  the  edifying  of  the 
body  of  Christ."  This  he  continues  to  do.  Every 
true  minister  is  an  exemplification  of  the  declaration. 

And  he  who  selects  the  men  determines  their 
special  gifts.  The  adaptation  of  each  to  his  work, 
his  training,  his  mould  of  mind,  his  inherited  traits — 
these,  and  such  as  these,  are  providentially  arranged 
by  Him  whose  spirit  divides  to  each  man  severally 
as  He  will,  and  who  holds  the  stars  in  his  right 
hand.  Thus  every  servant  of  Christ  becomes  an 
object  of  interested  study,  and  especially  such  as 
have  been  signally  useful.  Each  may  be  regarded 
as  a  special  provision  of  the  Lord,  to  fill  a  particu- 
lar place.     As  Luther,  Calvin,  Knox,  Bunyan,  Roger 


130  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

Williams,  and  many  another  illustrious  agent  of 
God,  was  raised  up  at  the  exact  time  and  place 
when  and  where  his  peculiar  endowments  fitted  into 
the  needs  and  opportunities  of  the  age,  so  also  less 
conspicuous  servants  of  God  have  no  less  exactly 
matched  their  day  and  place,  and  have  possessed 
their  distinctive  characteristics.  It  does  not  require 
great  eccentricity  to  render  a  man  peculiar.  As  the 
world  can  have  but  one  Martin  Luther,  but  one 
John  Calvin,  but  one  Adoniram  Judson,  so  it  can 
have  but  one  Zelotes  Grenell.  If  there  be  another 
of  the  same  name  he  will  be  still  a  different  person, 
with  a  gift  and  sphere  of  his  own.  It  is,  then,  no 
unwarranted  assumption  to  claim  that  the  subject 
of  this  memoir  is  a  man  worth  studying.  We  will 
look  at  him  just  now  as  a  man  and  as  a  preacher. 

I. — As   A   MAN. 

He  was  naturally  possessed  of  a  sound  and  vigor- 
ous bodily  organism.  In  his  youth  he  was  noted 
for  physical  activity  and  endurance,  excelling  in 
those  boyish  competitions  which  required  skill  and 
dexterity.  Accustomed  from  childhood  to  labor 
with  his  hands  he  was  never  averse  to  bodily  exer- 
tion, and  whenever  so  situated  as  to  render  it  feasi- 
ble, he    always  had  a  garden    spot  which    he  culti- 


As  A  Man  and  as  a   Preacher.  131 

vated  with  care,  and  whose  fruits  he  particularly 
relished.  Thus  his  natural  vigor  was  replenished  by 
wholesome  exercise  up  to  the  last  year  of  his  life. 
When  approaching-  middle  age  a  dyspeptic  habit 
seized  him  which  for  several  years  gave  him  annoy- 
ance, but  an  added  prudence  in  diet,  joined  to  his 
hardy  constitution,  triumphed  completely  over  the 
affection. 

His  mind  was  of  the  same  temper  as  his  body. 
He  was  what  is  called  ''clear-headed;"  possessed 
of  an  intellect  at  once  active  and  discriminating. 
From  childhood  he  was  fond  of  riddles  and  puzzles, 
and  as  a  boy  he  mastered  his  arithmetic  with  pleasure 
because  every  problem  proposed  therein  was  but  a 
puzzle  to  be  unraveled.  The  riddles  and  conundrums 
learned  in  his  youth  were  often  reproduced  in  his 
age  in  such  abundance  as  to  surprise  listening 
children  and  grand-children.  All  his  life  through 
he  was  very  fond  of  anecdote  and  could  appreciate 
a  story  with  point  to  it,  and  never  forgot  the  point 
when  repeating  it. 

Cheerfulness  was  a  predominating  feature  of  his 
disposition.  Though  of  a  nervoCis  temperament,  and 
often  short  and  blunt  in  his  manner  of  speech,  it 
did  not  take  long  for  a  reflective  person,  who  might 
feci  aggrieved  at  the  seeming  sharpness  of  his  ques- 
tion or  answer,  to  discover  that  it  was  rather  earn- 


132  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

estness  than  combativeness  that  accented  his  words. 
He  was  not  one  to  take  pleasure  in  humiliating 
another.  His  instincts  were  generous,  and  his  con- 
verse with  others  ever  indicated  a  desire  to  confer 
pleasure.  In  social  intercourse  he  stimulated  the 
minds  that  came  in  contact  with  his  own,  keeping 
them  attent  with  novel,  shrewd,  or  incisive  remarks, 
challenging  inquiry  and  evoking  repartee.  Young 
and  old  alike  regarded  him  as  good  company. 

He  was  an  earnest  man.  His  cheerfulness  was 
not  frivolity.  Life  was  intensely  real  to  him.  Its 
claims  upon  him  were  recognized  as  most  exacting. 
Duty  was  a  potent  word.  Indolence  he  knew  not. 
He  never  was  obliged  to  pause  and  ask  what  he 
should  do  next.  He  made  seasonable  plans  and 
followed  them.  He  walked  neither  on  the  sunny 
nor  on  the  shady  side  of  life,  but  took  the  road  of 
rugged  respoHsibility,  and  found  his  enjoyment  in 
moving  along  that  path.  What  his  hands  found  to 
do  he  did  with  his  might.  He  practiced  that  pro- 
verb which  he  often  quoted  to  his  sons  when  they 
found  difficulties  in  the  way  of  their  tasks,  "If  thy 
tool  be  dull  put  thereon  more  strength." 

He  was  a  man  of  strong  convictions.  What  he 
believed  he  believed  thoroughly,  and  to  that  belief 
he  proposed  to  conform  his  utterance  and  his  actions. 
No  one    who  knew    him  well    was    in    ignorance  as 


As  A  Man  and  as  a  Preacher.  133 

to  his  position  on  the  prominent  questions  of  the 
day  as  to  religion,  society,  or  politics.  Indeed,  many 
could  accurately  forecast  his  attitude  upon  new 
issues  from  their  knowledge  of  his  cardinal  opinions. 
Even  casual  acquaintances  did  not  remain  long  in 
doubt  as  to  who  and  what  he  was.  He  had  the 
courage  of  his  convictions.  Compliant  to  the  wishes 
and  views  of  his  friends  in  matters  involving  no 
moral  principle,  he  was  rigid  as  granite  against  any 
or  all,  if  he  believed  any  moral  decision  impended. 
No  one  who  knew  him  attempted  to  make  use  of 
him  in  appeals  to  selfishness  or  policy. 

He  was  a  generous  man.  Regarding  beneficence 
as  much  a  duty  as  truthfulness  or  honesty,  he  both 
taught  and  practiced  it.  With  a  large  family  and  a 
small  income  he  was  obliged  during  many  years  of 
his  life  to  exercise  the  most  rigid  economy.  Never- 
theless he  always  had  something  to  bestow  in  chari- 
ty. In  a  company  of  ministers  who  were  discus- 
sing the  best  methods  of  inculcating  benevolence 
among  their  people,  being  appealed  to,  he  said : 
"A  good  way  to  get  a  fair  collection  is  for  the 
minister  to  put  a  five  dollar  bill  in  the  plate  before 
it  is  passed  to  the  congregation."  A  leaf  from  his 
own  experience. 

He  was  a  man  of  unblemished  integrity.  It  was 
part    of   his     natural     endowment    to  be     singularly 


(3  i  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell.  ^ 

ingenuous.  He  had  not  the  arts  of  concealment  or 
disguise.  He  could  keep  a  secret,  but  only  by  a 
reserve  so  unnatural  that  his  silence  was  a  half  dis- 
closure. This  frankness,  which  was  often  a  source 
of  amusement  to  his  friends  and  his  family,  since 
it  led  him  to  speak  sometimes  of  things  which  did 
not  concern  others,  forbade  anything  like  dissimu- 
lation or  pretence  in  his  business  dealings.  Not 
only  did  his  principles  prohibit  any  attempt  to  take 
advantage  of  others,  but  these,  together  with  his 
transparent  methods,  offered  every  opportunity  for 
others  to  take  advantage  of  him — opportunities 
which  were  seldom  seized,  however.  On  one  occa- 
sion he  had  a  horse  to  sell.  It  had  improved  under 
his  easy  use  so  that  it  was  a  much  more  valua- 
ble animal  than  when  purchased.  When  the  day 
came  to  dispose  of  it,  he  led  it  into  the  village 
and  said  to  the  first  man  who  looked  at  it,  ''This 
ware  cost  me  one  hundred  dollars.  I've  had  the 
use  of  her  eighteen  months,  and  I'd  like  to  get 
seventy-five  dollars  for  her."  She  was  soon  sold, 
and  the  buyer  sold  her  again  in  an  hour,  making 
forty  dollars  in  the  transaction.  When  informed  of 
the  outcome  of  his  horse  sale  he  expressed  no  dis- 
satisfaction with  the  price  he  had  received.  And 
as  deceit  v/as  far  from  his  nature  he  had  a  great 
scorn  and   repugnance  for   it  when    seen  in  others. 


As  A  Man  and  as  a  Preacher.  135 

All  underhand  methods  he  abhorred,  as  hostile  to 
the  truth.  Secret  conclaves  and  collusions  he 
regarded  as  prima  facie  proof  of  bad  motives  and 
evil  objects.  Whatever  may  have  been  said  against 
him  at  any  time  in  his  life  it  is  doubtful  if  he  was 
ever  charged  with  dishonorable  dealing.  One  who 
knew  him  from  early  manhood  said  to  the  writer 
while  these  pages  were  being  penned,  "You  are 
writing  the  life  of  an  honest  and  hard  working 
man. ' 

II.— As  A  Preacher. 

The  Man  and  the  Preacher  vv^ere  so  blended, 
that  it  is  difficult  if  not  impossible  to  draw  a  sharp 
division  between  the  two.  Rarely  do  we  see  a 
minister  of  the  Gospel  who  is  so  naturally  and 
thoroughly  the  man  in  the  pulpit  that  he  is  out  of 
it,  and  the  preacher  out  of  the  pulpit  that  he  is 
in  it,  as  was  characteristic  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  His  individuality  was  in  his  preaching, 
and  his  preaching  work  permeated  his  hourly  life. 
No  conversation  with  brother  pastors  was  of  so 
great  interest  to  him  as  that  which  turned  upon  the 
interpretation  of  scripture  and  the  structure  of  ser- 
mons. In  corresponding  with  those  of  his  sons  who 
are  preachers,  he  frequently  gave  lists  of  subjects  and 


136  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

texts  lately  treated  by  him,  with  more  or  less  de- 
tail of  the  treatment,  and  if  they  failed  to  respond 
in    like    terms    he    reminded  them    of  the   omission. 

To  learning  a'nd  literary  culture  he  made  no  pre- 
tension. The  meager  educational  advantages  of 
his  youth  forbade  acquisitions  of  this  sort.  At  the 
beginning  of  his  ministry  he  gave  no  attention  to 
them.  Afterward  he  keenly  felt  the  lack  of  them, 
and  strongly  advocated  an  educated  ministry.  He 
did  what  he  could  to  repair  the  lack  he  had  come 
to  realize.  Having  a  quick,  eager,  and  receptive 
mind,  he  did  much  to  amend  the  earlier  defects. 
He  became  a  diligent  student,  and  up  to  the  last 
years  of  his  life  when  at  home  he  was  uniformly 
found  in  his  study,  and  in  his  study  he  was  at 
work.  His  library  contained  an  average  of  from  three 
hundred  to  four  hundred  volumes.  He  frequently 
bought  new  books  and  as  often  gave  away  old 
ones.  He  read  his  books  and  scarcely  a  volume 
can '  be  found  in  his  library  which  has  not  the  pen- 
ciled dates  when  it  was  read  and  sometimes 
reread,  and  usually  the  number  of  hours  con- 
sumed in  the  reading.  Thus  he  kept  himself 
abreast  with    the   thought  of  the  times. 

His  preaching,  however,  was  not  bookish,  but 
scriptural:  he  preached  the  Gospel.  Says  one  who 
knows,  *' Preaching  was  his  forte.     He  could  preach.' 


As  A  Man  and  as  a  Preacher.  137 

He  was,  in  the  best  sense  of  the  term,  a  popular 
preacher.  It  could  be  said  of  him  in  a  measure 
as  of  his  Master,  "The  common  people  heard  him 
gladly."  He  always  had  hearers,  and  his  preach- 
ing was  influential.  It  gave  shape  to  the  opinions 
and  actions  of  his  hearers,  and  was  not  merely  a 
pleasant  sound  in  their  ears. 

He  believed  in  preaching.  He  had  an  abiding 
faith  in  God  and  confidence  in  the  Gospel  as  a 
way  of  salvation.  He  believed  in  a  vicarious  atone- 
ment made  effectual  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  that 
there  must  be  a  communication  of  the  message  in 
order  that  men  may  hear,  and  the  spirit  may  have 
an  instrument  with  which  to  work.  In  this  con- 
fidence he  boldly  and  joyously  spoke  the  word, 
being  kept  by  this  faith  from  despondency  or  from 
undue  anxiety  in  his  work.  Thus,  he  delighted  in 
preaching.  Scarcely  ever  was  he  known  to  decline 
an  invitation  to  preach,  whatever  the  occasion  or 
however  brief  the  time  for  preparation.  This  was 
not  from  a  desire  to  be  conspicuous,  or  to  gain 
applause.  In  fact  he  was  so  unprepared  for  words 
of  compliment  that  he  was  never  so  much  at  his 
wit's  end  as  when  attempting  to  reply  fitly  to  them. 
He  loved  to  speak  the  truth  to  men,  and  usually 
impressed  his  hearers  that  he  relished  the  message 
he    brou^rht.     Said    one    who    marked    the    glow    of 


138  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

his  face  in  preaching,  ''That  man  would  rather 
preach  than    eat  his   dinner." 

He  put  his  whole  self  into  the  work  of  preaching. 
Often  before  preaching  he.  seemed  abstracted  and 
was  apparently  unconscious  of  what  was  transpiring 
about  him.  Walking  the  street  or  sitting  in  the 
pulpit  absorbed  in  pursuing  the  line  of  thought  for 
his  sermon,  he  could  be  seen  to  nod  his  head  or 
make  a  quick,  slight  gesture  with  his  hand,  and 
those  nearest  him  would  hear  him  softly  ejaculate, 
''Good!"  or  "That's  it."  These  premonitory  signs 
were  fully  vindicated  in  the  discourse.  His  delivery 
was  full  of  life.  Using  ordinarily  but  a  brief  out- 
line of  his  prepared  sermon,  he  looked  his  congrega- 
tion in  the  eye  and  spoke  with  energy,  throwing 
his  physical  vigor  in  to  emphasize  his  utterance. 
Whatever  else  he  was  in  preaching,  he  was  never 
tame.  Neither  dulness  nor  obscurity  could  be  charg- 
ed against  him. 

It  was  characteristic  in  him  to  select  texts  which 
attracted  attention  by  their  obvious  need  of  explana- 
tion, though  he  did  not  clip  or  mar  scripture  pas- 
sages to  surprise  his  auditors.  Of  this  many 
instances  might  have  been  gathered  up  from  the 
memory  of  friends  who  recall  and  repeat  years 
afterward  certain  texts  aud  their  elucidations. 
Favorites   in   this    class    were   these:  "A    peculiar 


As  A  Man  and  as  a  Preacher.  139 

people  ;"•'•  Thou  brcakest  the  head  of  leviathan  in 
pieces  and  gavest  him  to  be  meat  for  the  people 
inhabiting-  the  wilderness;"  "I  will  fasten  him  as 
a  nail  in  a  sure  place;"  ''A  plant  of  renown;" 
*'I  will  make  thee  a  new  sharp  instrument  having 
teeth;"  "Every  one  that  was  in  distress,  and  every- 
one that  was  in  debt,  and  every  one  that  was  dis- 
contented gathered  themselves  unto  him  and  he 
became  captain  over  them."  Before  the  Philadelphia 
Association,  being  unexpectedly  invited  to  preach, 
he  took  for  his  text:  *'Is  not  this  the  Carpenter?" 
This  was  in  1819,  at  the  beginning  of^his  ministry. 
He  was  oftentimes  very  happy  in  matching  his 
text  to  the  occasion.  At  one  time  in  his  first  set- 
tlement at  an  outstation  on  a  stormy  evening  but 
seven  persons  were  present.  Another  came  iri  dur- 
ing the  preliminary  devotions,  and  when  he  rose 
to  preach  he  announced  as  his  text  Eccl.  xi:  ii. — 
*'  Give  a  portion  to  seven  and  also  to  eight." 
When  the  two  little  bodies  in  Broome  and  Grand 
Streets,  New  York,  disbanded  and  formed  one  new 
organization  he  preached  to  them  on  Ezek.  xxxvii:i7 
"Join  them  one  to  another  into  one  stick,  and 
they  shall  become  one  in  thine  hand."  When  he 
returned  to  Paterson  as  pastor,  his  text  was  Gen. 
xxx:3i — "I  will  again  feed  and  keep  thy  flock." 
When  he  accepted  the  call   of  the  Totowa  church 


140  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

in  the  same  city,  he  selected  2  Cor.  xiii:i. — ''This 
is  the  third  time  I  am  coming  to  you."  In  begin- 
ing  his  pastorate  at  Port  Jervis  his  text  was  Acts  x: 
29. — "Therefore  came  I  unto  you  without  gainsay- 
ing as  soon  as  I  was  sent  for.  I  ask,  therefore, 
for  what  intent  ye  have  sent  for  me.^"  At  the  time 
of  a  great  freshet  he  preached  on  Eccl.  i:/, — "All 
the  rivers  run  into  the  sea;  yet  the  sea  is  not 
full."  For  a  temperance  sermon  he  had  his  text: 
"Show  us  a  sign;"  and  again,  "What  shall  we 
drink.?" 

His  resources  in  the  way  of  turning  apparently 
disadvantageous  circumstances  to  helpful  account 
was  often  illustrated  in  sermons  preached  under 
special  difficulties.  On  one  occasion,  being  called 
upon  to  preach  immediately  after  another,  he  be- 
gan his  discourse  in  this  way:  "When  I  was  a 
boy,  my  father  sent  my  brother  and  myself  to  bring 
in  each  an  armful  of  wood.  My  brother  took  all 
that  was  ready  cut  for  the  fire  and  I  returned  with- 
out any.  My  father  asked  me  why  I  had  brought 
in  no  wood.?  I  told  him  Chauncey  had  brought 
all  that  was  cut.  He  said  to  me,  '  why  did  you 
not  bring  in  a  basket  of  chips,  then.?'  The  brother 
preceding  me  has  brought  in  the  wood.  I  will 
bring  a  basket  of  chips."  Some  expressed  the  opin- 
ion  before    he    had   finished   that  it  was  a   back-log 


As  A  Man  and  as  a  rREACiiEiJ.  141 

he  was  bringliiij.  At  an  association  incctinc,^  he 
was  called  upon  to  preach  the  last  sermon  and 
take  a  missionary  collection.  Several  collections 
had  already  been  taken  during-  the  meeting  and 
it  looked  like  an  unpromising  time  for  another. 
He  began  by  saying,  "My  brethren,  some  of  you 
think  this  an  unfavorable  time  to  take  a  collec- 
tion for  foreign  missions.  I  regard  it  as  the  very  best 
time.  You  have  had  several  collections  and  have 
given  away  all  your  small  change;  now  I  expect 
you  will  give  your  dollars."  And  the  result  proved 
that   he    had    not   erred   in  judgment. 

He  was  eminently  a  Scriptural  preacher.  His 
love  and  reverence  for  the  Bible  was  very  strong. 
He  read  the  book  daily,  apart  from  the  family 
devotions,  and  could  always  tell  where  he  was. 
He  believed  in  reading  it  by  rote,  and  practiced  it. 
Thus  he  was  familiar  with  its  structure  and  con- 
tents, and  its  language  was  familiar  to  his  lips- 
This  familiarity  with  the  scriptures  gave  decided  col- 
or to  his  preaching.  Scripture  quotations  abounded 
as  proof  texts,  and  the  Bible  was  his  treasury  of 
illustrations.  He  stuck  to  his  text,  and  had  a 
knack  of  cracking  the  nut  and  extracting  the  meat 
in  the  most  direct  and  simple  manner.  To  say 
that  he  was  scriptural  is  to  say  that  he  was  at 
once    doctrinal     and    experimental    in    hi»   metkod. 


142  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

He  held  to  the  doctrines  of  grace  with  a  firm 
grasp,  while  he  hesitated  not  to  insist  upon  god- 
liness of  life  as  evidencing  the  workings  of  grace. 
•  Perhaps  as  strong  a  characteristic  of  his  preach- 
ing as  any,  was  the  systematic  arrangement  of  his 
matter.  He  uniformly  made  points  and  seldom 
failed  to  announce  their  number  as  he  proceeded. 
With  scarcely  any  variation  in  form,  there  was  an 
Introduction  and  a  Conclusion  to  each  discourse. 
And  yet  there  was  a  sufficient  variety  in  the  sub- 
jects treated  to  avoid  the  effect  of  sameness. 
He  believed  in  the  nine  digits.  Method  master- 
ed him.  He  knew  the  dimensions  in  feet  and 
inches  of  every  house  in  which  he  preached 
as  pastor,  and  could  give  the  figures  years 
after.  He  knew  how  many  persons  could  be 
seated  in  his  meeting  house.  He  could  tell  the 
number  of  steps  from  his  house  to  the  church  and 
to  the  Post-Office  or  the  railway  station  and  the 
exact  number  of  minutes  it  took  for  him  to  walk 
to  any  of  these  accustomed  places.  These  and 
many  other  things  were  reduced  to  figures,  and 
stood  thus  represented  in  his  mind.  If  he  set  Out 
on  a  journey  he  had  a  definite  plan  for  almost 
every  hour  until  his  return,  and  he  was  remarka- 
bly successful  in  carrying  out  his  project,  greatly 
to  his  satisfaction.     His  annual  visits  to  his  mother 


As  A  Man  and  as  a  riiEACiiEii  143 

at  Harpcrsfield,  New  York,  were  often  made  in 
his  own  conveyance.  When  so  made  he  usually 
left  preaching  appointments  for  all  the  evenings  of 
his  returning  way,  and  seldom  failed  to  fill  them. 
On  one  occasion  in  travelling  in  his  own  buggy 
from  Elmira  to  New  York,  he  left  such  a  series 
of  appointments  for  his  return.  But  an  unlooked-for 
delay  occurred  the  day  he  was  to  begin  his  home- 
ward journey,  a  delay  he  could  not  make  up  be- 
cause heavy  rains  had  made  the  roads  unusually 
bad.  As  a  result,  he  failed  of  every  appointment 
by  a  few  hours.  He  never  overcame  the  chagrin 
of  this  long  series  of  unmet  appointments.  It  can 
be  readily  seen  that  this  mental  habit  would  ap- 
pear in  his  sermons.  They  were  uniformly  thorough- 
ly planned.  He  never  began  a  discourse,  however 
brief,  without  some  idea  of  the  course  of  thought 
he  would  pursue,  and  the  conclusion  he  would  reach. 
This  rendered  his  sermons  the  more  easy  to  follow 
and  to   remember. 

These  are  but  imperfect  showings  of  the  distin- 
guishing traits  of  this  man  of  God.  Those  who 
heard  him  before  age  had  dampened  the  fires  of 
his  spirit,  bear  witness  to  the  versatility,  energy, 
and  effectiveness  of  his  pulpit  ministrations.  And 
those  who  knew  him  onl}'  in  the  last  two  decades 
of  his  earthly   life    saw   plain    and    frequent   tokens 


144  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

of  those  earlier  powers.  As  said  of  another,  his 
preaching  was  "the  lightning-  of  thought,  the  heavy 
artillery  of  truth,  and  the  eloquence  of  a  soul  earn- 
estly delivering  the  message  of  God." 


XVII. 

HIS   OWN   TESTIMONY   IN    HIS   OWN   LANGUAGE. 

"One  mistake  I  made  in  the  commencement  of 
my  ministry  was  in  not  realizing  the  importance  of 
literary  acquirements.  I  loved  knowledge  dearly, 
and  highly  prized  all  authentic  histories,  but  espec- 
ially the  knowledge  revealed  in  the  Bible  which  I 
read  much.  But  of  the  knowledge  of  science  or 
any  language  but  my  own  or  even  a  critical  knowl- 
edge of  that,  I  saw  no  need.  I  paid  some  attention 
to  the  elements  of  English  Grammar,  but  I  had 
preached  several  years  before  I  had  a  common  school 
boy  knowledge  of  it.  To  be  able  to  speak  so  as 
to  be  well  understood  by  my  hearers  was  all  that 
I  supposed  necessary.  This  has  always  weakened 
my  influence,  especially  among  the  literary  classes. 
I  now  believe  literature  is  by  some  made  too  much 
of;  by  others  its  real  value  is  not  duly  appreciated. 
Had  I  realized  its  value  I  might  have  acquired  much 
that  I  did  not." 

**  Another  mistake  of  my  early  ministry  was  in  not 
realizing  the  need  of  studying  a  text  selected  as 
the  foundation  of  a  sermon.     I  saw  the    importance 


146  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

of  Bible  knowledge  and  all  Bible  truth,  histori- 
cal, doctrinal,  and  practical,  and  was  a  daily  student 
of  the  Bible,  but  of  making  a  text  the  subject  of  study 
I  had  no  idea.  I  supposed  when  the  Lord  leads  a 
minister  to  preach  and  gives  him  a  text  and  hear- 
ers. He  will  assist  him  at  the  time.  I  looked  on 
preaching  as  something  a  little  below  Divine  inspir- 
ation. The  use  of  the  pen  in  study,  I  had  no  idea 
of,  and  when  first  attempted,  my  thoughts  ran  so 
much  faster  than  I  could  write  that  all  w^as  confus- 
ion, and  progress  for  the  time  ceased.  But  I  learn- 
ed that  practice  and  determination  was  a  cure  of 
the  difficulty  which  had  appeared  insurmountable. 
I  would  advise  the  young  minister  to  study  much, 
make  free  use  of  the  pen,  bring  ** beaten  oil"  into 
the  sanctuary,  and  strive  rightly  to  divide  the  word 
of  truth." 

''When  I  commenced  my  ministry  I  was  strong- 
ly opposed  to  reading  sermons  in  the  pulpit  and 
I  have  not  got  over  it  yet.  During  the  first  seven- 
teen years  I  never  took  a  scrap  of  paper  into  the 
pulpit.  I  had  written  hundreds  of  outlines  of  sermons, 
some  short  and  others  longer,  had  preached  at 
associations, conventions,  ordinations,  on  temperance, 
and  a  course  of  sixteen  sermons  on  the  inspiration 
of  the  Scriptures,  and  some  were  written  full  length, 
but,  all  were  left  at  home.     At  the  age  of  forty  a  fit  of 


His  own  Testimony  in  his  own  lan(;ua(jk.      UT 

sickness  deranged  my  power  of  memory,  and  as  a 
remedy  I  used  a  short  skeleton  and  have  done  so 
since.  I  never  enjoyed  reading  sermons  in  the  pul- 
pit, and  probably  twenty  is  the  full  number  of  all 
I  have  read.  But  a  short  and  judicious  skeleton 
aids  the  memory  and  does  not  detract  from  the 
power  of  the  sermon  on  the  common  mind." 

''During  the  first  part  of  my  ministry  I  adopted 
the  plan  of  preaching  one  sermon  a  week,  at  a  so- 
cial meeting  from  a  text  chosen  out  of  the  chapter 
which  a  brother  selected  and  read  at  the  opening 
of  the  meeting.  All  the  time  I  had  to  select  and 
arrange  was  during  two  prayers  and  tw^ice  singing. 
I  have  continued  this  with  some  modification  dur- 
ing my  whole  ministry.  These  discourses  were 
from  fifteen  to  thirty  minutes  long,  at  times  a  par- 
agraph was  the  theme  of  comment,  more  generally 
a  single  sentence.  This  was  of  much  advantage  to 
myself,  as  it  taught  me  to  think  and  arrange  quickly, 
and  be  always  ready.  In  some  instances  the  dis- 
course was  more  of  an  exhortation  than  a  sermon, 
and  some  were  among  the  sweetest  to  myself  and 
hearers.  It  helps  to  speak  extemporaneously.  I 
recommend  young  ministers  to  adopt  it  as  a  means 
of  self  improvement." 

"When  I  moved  to  Paterson,  in  the  fall  of  1833,  I 
was  expected  to  preach  three  sermons  each  Sunday 


148  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

and  one  on  a  week  evening.  All  were  to  the  same 
congregation  and  the  most  intelligent  would  hear 
them  all.  Four  new  sermons  a  week  was  no  easy 
task.  As  a  relief,  I  began  preaching  a  course  of 
sermons  on  some  subject.  Among  these  were  twelve 
on  the  inspiration  of  the  scriptures,  twenty-two 
on  the  book  of  Revelation,  fifteen  on  the  types 
of  Christ,  fifteen  on  revivals  of  religion,  some  thirty 
on  the  scripture  titles  of  Christ,  eight  to  young 
people,  and  eight  on  the  family  relation,  beside  a 
few  other  courses  on  the  Parables  and  one  in  oppo- 
sition to  national  wars.  These  were  of  especial 
advantage  to  me,  as  I  was  led  to  read  many  books 
and  to  pursue  studies  I  would  not  otherwise  have 
done. 

"The  effect  of  a  letter.  There  lived  in  a  neigh- 
borhood where  I  frequently  visited  a  family  compos- 
ed of  three  sisters,  whose  parents  were  Baptists  and 
had  moved  West  near  Oswego.  The  oldest  of  these 
sisters  was  a  widow,  not  a  member  but  cherishing 
a  hope  in  Christ.  The  second  one  was  unmarried 
and  a  member  of  the  church  and  the  youngest  not 
a  professor.  I  had  preached  near  them  and  went 
with  them  to  tarry  for  the  night.  They  each  re- 
quested me  to  write  a  letter  to  send  to  their  par- 
ents. I  wrote  for  the  eldest,  laid  it  aside  then  for 
the  second   one   and  the   third.     In  each  I  strove  to 


His  own  Testimony  in  his  own  language.      149 

write  such  a  letter  as  each  should  write.  I  read 
aloud  the  letter  of  the  eldest  sister  and  asked 
"Does  it  suit  you?"  she  replied,  "Yes"  Then  the 
second,  and  gained  the  same  answer.  When  I  read 
the  third  she  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears  and  cried 
like  a  child.  Some  months  after,  in  a  revival  sea- 
son she  came  to  the  church  to  relate  her  experi- 
ence. She  declared  the  reading  of  the  letter  to 
her  parents  was  the  beginning  of  her  conviction. 
She  had  no  peace    till  she   found  it   in    Christ." 

"During  the  first  eighteen  years  of  my  ministry 
my  principal  pulpit  help  was  Brown's  Dictionary 
of  the  Bible,  which  I  purchased  about  the  time  of 
my  ordination.  It  was  an  incalculable  advantage 
to  me.  I  never  saw  a  book  of  skeletons  which  I 
admired  or  had  any  wish  to  posess.  Brother  Per- 
kins recommended  to  me  Jay's  works.  I  found  his 
morning  and  evening  exercises  a  valuable  assistant 
and  have  used  hundreds  of  his  texts  and  illustra- 
tions  as   the   foundations  of  sermons." 


150  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 


HIS  RELIGIOUS  EXPERIENCE  IN  VERSE. 

Composed   and  written   by  himself  soon   after  his 
baptism,  before  he  was   fifteen. 

Young  friends,  attend,  while   I  relate 

The  mercies   of  the  Lord, 
In  saving  me  from  endless  death, 

By  faith  in  Jesus'  blood. 

In   early  life,   I   oft  did   hear 
God's  people  preach  and  pray, 

My  heart  at  times  was  full   of  fear 
About  the  judgment  day. 

But  when   the   sound   did  leave   my  ear 

No  more  on  God   I'd  think. 
And  thus  I   spent  near  fourteen  years 

Careless   on   ruin's    brink. 

One  night  to  meeting   I   repaired, 

A  conference  it  was  called, 
I  was  exhorted  to  repent 

Or  death  would  be  my  fall. 

An   arrow  from    Jehovah's   bow 

Into  my  heart  did   strike,  ' 
I  saw  my   condemnation  just. 

But  had  no  strength  for  flight. 


His  own  Testimony  in  his  own  language.      151 

My  sins  arose  as  mountains  high 

And  all  before   my  eye, 
And   God  was  just  in  damning  me; 

But  mercy  was  my  cry. 

Thus   daily  did   I   grieve  and    mourn, 

To  see  it  was  my  guilt 
That  Jesus   Christ  my  Lord  had  slain, 

His   precious  blood   had   spilt. 

But  while   I  thus   in   anguish   lay 

O'erwhelemed   in  deep  despair, 
A   small   calm   voice  to   me   did   say 

Arise  and  do   not  fear. 

The   love  of  God   did  fill  my  soul 

My  cup  did  over  run. 
All,   all  was  joy  and  peace  within, 

Heaven  in  my  soul  begun. 

My  soul   was   filled   with   holy  joy 

To  feel  a   Savior's  love  ; 
My  theme   by  day  and   song  by   night 

Were  on   "the   things  above." 

But  oft  amid  these  holy  joys 
My  tears  would  rise   and   flow. 

To   feel   so   vile  a   wretch   as   I 
Should   be   beloved   so. 


152  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

But  since   my   Lord  endured  the  cross 
To  save  my  soul  from   hell, 

I'll   go  among   his    people  dear 
His  wondrous   love  to   tell. 

And  since  from   Gallilee  he  came 

By  John   to  be   baptized, 
I'll   follow  him   without  delay 

Though  scoffers   do   despise. 

And   now  the  world  I   do  forsake 
With   all   their  frowns   and  love, 

Hoping  to   serve  the   Savior  here 
And   dwell  with  him   above. 

Come  now,  my  friends,   and  go  with  me 

To  taste   redeeming   love. 
Or  you'll   regret  when  'tis  too  late, 

For  fast  the  time  does  move. 

When   death   will  come  and  judgment  too 

The  Judge  will   sternly  say: 
Sinners   depart,   saints  dwell  with  me 

In   all   eternity. 


TESTIMONY   of  OTHERS. 

Reminiscence  of  Rev.  John  B.  Case  now  residing 
at  Hawley  Pennsylvania. 

"The  first  Gospel  minister  I  have  any  recollection 
of  hearing  preach  was  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell.  I 
recollect  distinctly  his  preaching,  and  some  of  his 
baptisms  before  I  was  eight  years  old.  The  first 
sermon  I  recollect  was  about  Solomon's  Temple. 
His  remarks  were  very  earnest  and  impressive." 

"From  the  spring  of  1818  to  the  fall  of  1833,  the 
preaching  and  pastoral  labors  of  Elder  Grenell  were 
very  laborious,  aggressive,  and  successful.  When  he 
first  came  there,  some  sneeringly  called  him  a  strip- 
li)ig  and  Mead's  yearling T 

"My  grandfather  Ebenezer  Mead  was  the  storm- 
staid  traveler,  who  heard  him  preach  in  Thomp- 
kins  County  New  York,  invited  and  introduced  him 
in   Orange   County  New   York." 

"He  gathered  two  large  congregations  one 
at  Orange  County,  N.  Y.,  the  other  at  Mt.  Salem 
N.    J.,  five    miles   apart.      Foes    as    well    as    friends 


154  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

admitted  that  he  was  much  the  ablest  preacher  of 
any  denomination  for  many  miles  around.  He  had, 
many  admirers.  He  was  a  warm  devoted  friend  of 
education,  Sunday  Schools,  and  missions.  The  pul- 
pit was  his  forte,  he  could  preach." 

He  was  a  close  student  and  kept  himself  abreast 
with  the  times,  and  was  always  outspoken  on  the 
great  moral  questions  of  the  day.  He  spoke  out 
clearly  on  God's  will  of  purpose  and  will  of  command, 
and  consequently  did  not  have  the  instability  of 
doublemindedness.  Would  that  we  had  many  such 
ministers  now  in  1884,  as  Elder  Grenell  was  from 
1818  to  1833.  He  baptized  me  at  Mt.  Salem  '*  April 
2ist,    1833." 

When  I  was  ordained  to  the  ministry,  he  gave 
me  my  charge  and  said  among  other  things,"  Make 
short   visits." 

"When  he  left,  the  church  numbered  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  members,  thirty-six  had  been  bap- 
tized during  the  year." 


Testimony  of  others.  155 

Testimony  of  Rev.  J.  C.  Carpenter,  of  Burlington 
New   Jersey. 

"Elder  Lathrop  opposed  the  ordination  of  your 
ftither  at  the  first  council.  But  a  few  months  after, 
and  when  Elder  Grenell  had  been  ordained  and 
was  preaching  to  a  full  house,  he  saw  Elder  Lathrop 
in  the  congregation  and  called  upon  him  for  the 
closing  prayer.  Before  praying  the  venerable  Elder 
said,  "When  I  first  heard  this  young  man,  I  did 
not  like  him.  I  thought  the  Devil  sent  him,  not 
the  Lord.  I  have  now  heard  him  preach  a  sermon 
big  as  eternity."  After  the  meeting  closed, he  threw 
his  arms  around  the  young  preacher  in  fraternal 
kindness. 

"The  revival  enjoyed  in  1819  began  February 
28th.  Your  father,  just  before  going  on  a  visit  to 
his  old  home,  preached  a  sermon  which  without 
his  knowledge  of  it  was  blessed  -to  the  conversion 
of  two  wild  young  men  who  had  been  opposes 
of  the  Gospel.  It  continued  to  spread  until  a  large 
number  were  converted. 

In  1833  there  was  a  powerful  revival.  It  began 
in  the  fall  of  1832  by  four  brethren  meeting  to 
pray.  At  the  end  of  a  week  they  met  again  and 
each  one  brought  another  with  him.  Then  at  the 
next  meeting  the  eight  brought  eight  more,  and  die 


156  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

work  extended  with  great  power.  Elder^  Grenell 
would  preach  at  the  meeting  house  Sunday  morning, 
at  a  school  house,  and  another  part  of  the  field,  in 
the  afternoon,  and  at  another  still  in  the  evening. 
Five  evenings  of  the  week  meetings  were  held,  and 
on  both  sides  of  the  mountain  many  were  con- 
verted. 

"On  one  occasion  when  the  house  was  crowded 
and  it  was  late,  so  that  they  had  about  given  up 
the  preacher,  a  voice  was  heard  at  the  door  "I 
have  come."  He  walked  to  the  pulpit  and  gave 
out  his  text,  **I  am  come  that  they  may  have  life 
&c."  His  introduction  was  in  these  words  ''lean- 
not  give  you  life,  but  have  come  to  tell  you  who 
can!'     It  was  a  powerful    sermon. 

**The  Anti-mission  question  was  making  a  stir 
It  caused  your  father  some  perplexity  but  he  pre- 
served his   equilibrium   and  came  out  all  right. 

"In  1826  he  was  moderator  of  the  Warwick 
Association  and  preached  from  the  text  Hosea  i4 
5-7,."     '*Iwill  be  as  the  dew  unto  Israel   &c." 

The  Rev.  George  C.  Baldwin  D.  D.  of  Troy  N.  Y. 
gives  the  following  reminiscence  of  his  labors  in 
Paterson,  N.   J. 

''Both  Mrs.  Baldwin  and  myself  respected  and 
loved  him  as  our  Father  in  the  Gospel,  We  were 
members  of  the   congregation,  in  1833,  when  he  set- 


Testimony  of  others.  157 

tied  as  pastor  over  our  church  at  Patcrson,  New 
Jersey,  the  first  time.  The  pastor  who  preceeded 
him,  Elder  Daniel  Lewis,  was  an  excellent  old  man, 
hyper-calvinistic  in  his  theology,  and  very  quiet 
and  gentle  in  his  manner  of  preaching.  He  also 
utterly  failed  to  interest  young  people.  The  com- 
ing of  your  father  in  the  prime  of  his  stalwart  man- 
hood; his  physical  energy  in  preaching,  his  tender 
earnestness  and  touching  pathos,  his  interest  in 
the  young,  surprised  and  won  all  hearts.  We  were, 
in  fact,  amazed  at  his  enthusiasm,  his  power  of, 
endurance,  the  variety  and  richness  of  his  sermons, 
and  the  intensity  of  his  zeal.  Very  soon  an  ex- 
tensive revival  followed  his  labors,  of  which  wife 
and   I   were   among   the  first  fruits. 

"In  1837  another,  and  a  greater  revival  was  en- 
joyed, during  which,  if  my  memory  serves  me,  more 
than  a  hundred  young  people  were  baptized.  That 
was  a  much  rarer  and  more  wonderful  fact  in  those 
days  than  it  is  now. 

"  I  thought  then,  and  I  think  now,  that,  at  his 
best,  he  was  the  best  natural,  scriptural  preacher 
I  ever  heard.  His  knowledge  of  the  Bible  v/as 
extensive,  his  power  of  preserving  the  central  truth 
of  a  text  was  intuitive,  his  ability  to  analyze  and 
illustrate  was  exceptional.  He  did  a  good  work 
for   God.     His   memory  is  blessed." 


158  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

The    Rev.    Thomas   Armitage    D.    D.    gives   the 
following  testimony  in  a  letter  to   the   author. 

*'I  had  the  greatest  respect  for  your  venerable 
father,  though  it  was  my  lot  to  see  but  little  of 
him  for  many  years  before  his  death.  But  all  who 
knew  him  and  had  an  eye  for  character,  saw  at 
a  glance,  that  he  was  a  man  of  mark,  and  of  the 
good  Old  School.  His  perceptions  of  Divine  truth 
were  very  clear  and  keen,  having  tutored  himself 
in  early  life  to  master  the  writings  of  the  old  Div- 
ines, and  to  revel  in  their  force  and  wealth  of  thought. 
The  first  copy  of  Gill's  Body  of  Divinity  that  I  ever 
saw  was  in  his  library,  and  he  praised  it  so  highly 
that  after  a  long  hunt  I  procured  a  copy.  Whether 
Hall  was  right  or  wrong  in  calling  his  commentary 
**a  continent  of  mud"  it  is  not  necessary  to  say; 
but  heaven  knows  that  his  Divinity  would  clear 
many  a  muddled  head  to  day,  if  they  would,  or 
perhaps  could,   master  it  as  your  father   did. 

**As  a  preacher,  your  father  was  one  of  the  most 
clear,  analytical,  natural  expounders  that  I  ever 
knew.  A  text  opened  itself  instinctively  to  him 
as  nurse  to  a  hungry  babe,  and  it  seemed  to  taste 
just  as  good.  The  only  fault  that  I  ever  found 
with  him  was  his  love  of  tobacco.  God  bless  his 
memory   and  his  sons. 


Testimony  of  others.  159 

Rev.    L.    O.   Grcnell. 

My  dear  Rrotlicr: 

The  memory  of  your  honored  father,  is 
one  of  the  cherished  treasures  of  my  heart.  Early 
in  my  ministry  we  were  frequently  thrown  together, 
on  public  occasions  sometimes  taking  different  parts 
in  the  same  service.  His  age  and  experience  and 
kiiow7i  popularity^  rendered  me  at  first  a  little  shy 
of  him,  but  I  soon  learned  his  genial  nature;  as 
well  as  his  love  for  younger  brethren,  and  his  read- 
iness to  overlook  in  them  what  he  doubtless  might 
have  justly  censured  in  older  and  more  experienced 
men.  From  that  time  my  shyness  left  me,  and 
our  acquaintance  grew  into  a  mutual,  and  abidijig 
friendship.  This  was  specially  the  case  after  we 
had  bowed  together  either  in  some  family  circle, 
or  in  secret  before  the  throne  of  grace;  and  I  had 
heard  him  pour  out  his  hearty  in  prayer.  I  felt  at 
once  that  he  was  a  loving,  godly  and  sy^npathisiyig 
christian  brother ;  with  a  young  heart  and  cheering 
word  for  all  who  were  Jionestly  striving  to  serve 
the  same  Master.  Among  his  many  excellencies, 
there  were  a  few  which  I  will  name,  because  they 
seemed  particularly  attractive  to  me. 

The   first    was    his   extreme   ingenuity  in    the    use 


160  Elder  Zelotes  Geenell. 

of  the  scriptures.  I  have  known  him  to  name  many 
a  scripture  text  which  at  the  time  seemed  to  me 
little  more  than  a  bone,  and  sometimes  a  "very 
dry  bone,"  yet,  with  his  fertile  brain  he  would  so 
turn  it  over,  elucidate  it  , and  draw  out  logicaUorv- 
clusions;  that  ere  it  left  his  hand  it  would  be  not 
only  clothed  with  flesh  but  filled  also  with  useful 
instruction  and  freighted  with  mighty  power.  And 
then  his  humility  in  conveying  this  instruction, 
seemed  fully  equal  to  his  ingenuity. 

Another  feature  in  his  character   was   his   native 
wit  and  readiness  at  repartee.     These  rendered  him 
a  welcome  guest  in  the  many  households  with  whom 
he  mingled.     For  several  years  he  visited  my  family 
frequently,  occasionally  passing  the  night  with  us  and 
always  ministering  to  the  ycy.  of  both    parents   and 
children.     During   one  of  these  visits  when  we  were 
all  assembled  for  vtortiing  worship,   which    was  al- 
ways observed  before  breakfast,  after  we  had  read 
the    scriptures,  when  I    called    on    him  to  pray,  he 
looked  up  very  meekly,  and  asked,  "What   shall  I 
pray  for  now)  I  can  pray  far  more  thankfully  after 
I  have   eaten    my   breakfast.     At   others    of  these 
visits  he  often  convulsed  with  laughter  the  younger 
portion    of    the    family    with    his    sallies   of  humor 
Knowing  that  I  did  not  use  nor  advocate  the  use 
of  tobacco  he  had  several  times,  without  my  knowl- 


Testimony  of  others.  161 

edge,  gone  into  the  back-yard  to  indulge  his  favorit 
habit  of  smoking.  But  one  evening  when  I  came 
home  and  welcomed  him,  I  saw  from  the  twinkle 
in  his  eye,  as  well  as  from  the  strong  smell  of 
tobacco-smoke  in  my  study,  and  the  general  /^z'/^r- 
2/j/ manifested  that  ''some  thing  was  up."  It  was 
soon  explained  when  he  said  ;  "I  asked  your  wife," 
(who  was  a  daughter  of  his  old  and  valued  friend, 
Rev.  Ducan  Dunbar,  of  New  York)if  I  could  not 
smoke  in  your  study  and  she  said  certainly,  certainly, 
Mr.  Grenell,  and  now  I  am  going  to  smoke  as  much 
as  I  please ;  and  any  man  who  has  preached  as 
many  years  as  you  have,  and  cannot  bear  a  little 
tobacco  smoke  must  be  a  weak  brother.  The  effect 
of  this  and  lik^  characteristic  expressions  of  his, 
was  of  course  electincal  upon  the  whole  group. 

The  greatest  attraction  however  in  your  father's 
life  always  seemed  to  me  to  be  his  deep  devotion 
to  his  Master's  service  and  glory.  Nothing  seemed 
long  to  please  him  which  had  not  these  as  their 
ultimate  object.  God  honored  him  as  few  men  have 
been  honored  by  giving  him  souls  for  his  hire ; 
and  his  influence  cannot  be  otherwise  than  salutary 
upon  many  generations  to  come.  I  am  glad  that 
you  have  undertaken  to  prepare  a  memoir  of  him. 
May  the  Lord  bless  the  undertaking  and  crown  your 
efforts  with  success^  is  the    earnest   prayer   of 


162  Elder  Zelotes  Grfxell.  ' 

j 

Your  own,  and    your   father's  ', 

Friend  and    brother  in    Christ.  \ 

Wheelock  H.  Parmly,    * 
Jersey  City,   December    nth,  1884. 


Contribution  of  the  Rev.  A.  H.  Burh'ngham  D.  D.^ 

District  Secretary  of  the  Missionary  Union. 

I  once  asked  the  late  Peter  Balen,  than  whom  I 
know  not  one  better  qualified  to  express  an  intel- 
ligent and  correct  opinion  as  to  Gospel  preaching": 
*'Who  was  the  best  preacher  under  whose  ministry 
he  had  ever  sat?"  He  replied  quickly,  "Zelotes 
Greneli."  This  is  high  praise.  Peter  Balen,  of  bless- 
ed memory,  had  been  during  his  christian  life  a 
member  of  the  Tabernacle,  Fifth  Avenue,  Cannon 
street  and  Central  Baptist  churches  of  New  York, 
of  the  Pierrpont  Street,  Baptist  church  of  Brooklyn, 
and  was  then  connected  with  the  First  Baptist 
Church  of  Piainfield,  N.  J..  With  some  of  the  churches 
he  was  a  worker  for  several  years  each.  The  dis- 
tinguished pastors  to  whom  he  listened  are  all  well 
known  and  are  an  honor  to  the  denomination.  The 
memories  of  those  dead  and  the  ministration*  of 
those  living,  make  all  their  pulpits  famous  Tor  ability 
and  spiritual  power  and  some  of  them  for  added 
charms  of  grace  and  eloquence. 


Testimony  of  others.  163 

This  remarkable  testimony  to  the  great  excellence 
of  Mr.  Grenell  as  a  preacher  was  not  given  with- 
out the  amplest  opportunity  for  forming  a  correct 
judgment.  During  the  whole  period  of  his  pastorate 
in  Cannon  Street  Baptist  Church,  New  York,  Mr. 
Balen    was  an  attendant  on  his  ministry. 

This  concession  of  this  superior  christian  lay-man 
led  me  to  study  our  revered  friend  more  closely 
and  possibly  with  greater  interest  than  otherwise 
I  would  have  done,  when  I  was  pastor  by  his  side 
in  Paterson  in  1877 — j^.  He  had  been  the  honored 
pastor  of  the  First  Church,  where  I  was  then,  but 
now  he  was  leading  and  feeding  the  flock  in  Union 
Avenue.  Traditions  and  grateful  memories  of  his 
ministry  in  the  First  Church,  were  often  dwelt  upon 
by  the  older  members.  I  coveted  their  utterance. 
Even  their  expressions  of  their  veneration  and  love 
or  their  old  pastor  were  generally  accompanied 
with  testimony  to  his  marked  ability  as  a  preacher. 
Several  times  I  had  the  privilege  of  hearing  him 
in  the  First  Church. 

In  his  church  on  Union  Avenue  there  was  no  bap- 
tistery. Converts  multiplied,  and  his  church  would 
join  with  mine  in  service,  because  of  the  facilities 
thus  afforded  for  baptizing  them.  He  pleaded  old 
age,  for  he  was  eighty  then,  as  a  reason  for  asking 
me  to  officiate  at  the  baptism  ;  but  I  n^ver  thought 


164  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

his  number  of  years  any  barrier  to  his  preaching 
upon  those  interesting  occasions,  nor  did  he,  for 
preaching  he  relished,  reveled  in  the  very  thought 
of  it,  and  followed  it  with  a  zeal  and  fire,  well  for 
younger  men  to  have,  till  wasting  and  sickness  laid 
him  aside  entirely,  a  few  months  only  before  he 
died.  He  had  a  genius  for  making  sermons.  He 
loved  it  too.  But  many  can  make  sermons  who 
cannot  preach  them.  He  could  do  both.  The  in- 
genuity, skill,  and  comprehensiveness  displayed  in 
his  sermons  were  intellectually  refreshing:  their 
evangelical  sentiment  and  tone,  and  their  earnest 
spirit  and  utterance  made  them  soul  stirring. 

In  conversation  with  my  wife,  while  in  Paterson 
he  revealed  the  secret  of  his  ability,  and  success 
as  a  preacher.  He  said,  unlike  some  ministers  he 
had  always  attended  to  his  preaching  first ;  he  had 
made  pastoral  work  subordinate  to  the  pulpit,  that 
his  notion  had  always  been  and  it  had  governed 
him  through  life ;  that  if  his  pulpit  were  allowed 
to  suffer,  a  minister  Avas  weak  where  he  ought  to 
be  strongest,  and  that  his  ministry  as  a  whole  would 
be  inefficient;  that  when  many  others  were  running 
about  doing  what  they  called  pastoral  work  which 
often  degenerated  into  traveling  around  in  parish 
circuits  to  indulge  in  gossip  and  twaddle,  he  was 
attending  to  his  sermons.     This  attending  to  sermons 


Testimony  of  others.  165 

always  makes  good  preachers  where  there  is  any 
foundation  of  nature  worthy  to  build  upon.  How 
he  became  possessed  of  it  I  know  not.  Father, 
mother,  more  likely  God  gave  it  to  him,  but  he  had 
a  large  stock  of  native  preaching  stuff  in  him  which 
he  made  as  his  advantages  allowed  the  very  most 
of  by  ''attending  to  his  sermons." 

His  originality  had  a  touch  of  quaintness  in  it. 
This  would  display  itself  in  sermon  and  prayer,  as 
well  as  in  personal  conversation.  Quite  probably 
his  Son,  Zelotes  Junior,  now  the  height  man  in  the 
pulpit  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Detroit,  when 
a  student  and  at  home  in  vacation,  may  have  ex- 
pressed an  opinion  about  some  doctrine  or  preach- 
ed it,  which  did  not  quite  satisfy  Zelotes  Senior. 
This  may  have  furnished  the  occasion  for  the  follow- 
ing back-stroke,  said  to  have  been  made  by  him 
in  family  prayer  when  the  son  was  knelt  by  his 
side,  **0  Lord  teach  the  young  man  that  little  he 
knows,  how  little  he  knows."  But  however  indi- 
rect the  Senior  may  have  been  in  trying  to  make 
his  point,  the  Junior  with  a  merry,  loving  twinkle 
in  his  eve  was  face  to  face  with  his  answering  par- 
rying blow,  ''Father,  dont  you  think  it  better  to  pray 
for  a  young  man,  than  to  pray  at  him." 

New  York,  July   loth,   1885. 

A.   H.  Burlingham. 


XVIII. 

;A   MONUMENT   OF   SOVEREIGN   GRACE. 

We  have  now  come  to  the  close  of  this  active 
life  of  sixty-five  years  in  the  service  of  the  ministry. 
We  have  followed  him  from  place  to  place  as  he 
followed  the  pillar  and  the  cloud,  and  taken  a  survey 
of  his  work.  At  every  point  where  he  labored  his 
ministry  was  a  blessing.  In  no  instance  did  he  labor 
in  vain  or  spend  his  strength  for  nought.  The  same 
spirit  that  called  him,  and  sent  him  forth  into  the 
harvest  field  went  with  him  and  made  his  ministra- 
tions effectual.  Is  our  work  in  this  memoir  complete 
and  shall  we  drop  the  pen  and  leave  the  record  as 
it  is  ?  Does  there  not  yet  remain  one  feature  of 
that  life,  by  no  means  an  unimportant  one  not  yet 
presented?  Ought  not  another  and  closing  tribute 
to  the  untiring  labores  of  three  score  years  and  five 
be  added  to  what  has  already  been  written  ?  What 
was  the  ruling  element  in  his  character  and  the 
inspiration  of  his  work?  The  ardent  desire  is  to 
form  the  right  estimate  of  the  man  and  his  work, 
and  put  it  on  record  as  a  fitting  close  of  our  efforts. 
What  inscription  now  shall  we  place  upon  the  tab- 


A  Monument  of  Sovereign  Grace.  167 

let  to  his  memory  as  a  truthful  index  of  him  and 
his  labors  ?  Shall  it  not  be  one  in  harmony  with 
his  stern  and  unyielding  conviction  of  Gospel  truth? 
A  monument  of  Divine  grace. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  a  firm  believer 
in  the  doctrine  of  salvation  by  grace  as  held  by 
the  Calvinistic  school  of  theology.  Quite  early  in 
his  ministry  he  read  and  mastered  Gill's  body  of 
divinity.  This  work  was  one  of  his  texts  books  of 
theology.  "He  loved  to  revel  in  the  stores  and 
wealth  of  thought"  of  the  Old  School  Divines.  His 
views  ran  along  the  same  lines,  and  in  the  main 
coincided  with  those  of  the  Old  School  Theology- 
Dr  Gill's  commentary  of  the  old  and  new  testaments, 
thought  by  some  even  in  this  day  to  be  the  best 
one  ever  published  on  the  entire  Bible,  was  ever 
at  his  right  hand  in  the  study.  Many  of  his  expo- 
sitions were  drawn  from  the  comments  of  this  vol- 
uminous expounder  of  scripture.  Some  pronounced 
him  ''Hyper-calvinistic  "  in  the  early  years  of  his 
ministry  and  declared,  "There  was  no  difference  be- 
tween his  preaching  and  that  of  Elder  Beebe"  in 
relation  to  the  doctrine  of  grace.  "They  were  one 
in  doctrine  "  and  the  lines  of  division  were  on  mis- 
sionary effort.  The  expression  "Sovereign  and  in- 
vincible grace"  was  a  familiar  one  m  his  theology 
and  an  index  of  his  creed. 


168  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

Dr  Wayland  in  one  of  his  letters  uses  the  expres- 
sion "the  sharp  angles  of  Calvinism."  These  did 
not  trouble  this  preacher  of  the  Gospel.  He  saw 
no  need  of  ''filing  and  hammering"  them  out  in 
order  to  construct  a  system  of  theology.  And  all 
through  his  ministration  he  held  substantially  the 
same  views.  There  may  have  been  a  modification 
inclining  more  to  the  practical  in  the  presentation 
of  the  message,  but  ever  the  same  exaltation  of 
the  divine  purpose  and  power  of  sovereign  grace. 
To  the  writer  he  said  late  in  life  as  an  index  of 
his  views,  "I  think  a  calvinistic  sermon  with  an 
Arminian  Association  about  right."  Yet  he  ever 
held  **the  soul  is  passive  in  regeneration,"  "is  made 
willing  by  grace"  to  accept  Christ  and  "sovereign 
and  irresistible  grace  rules  in  the  entire  work"  of 
redemption,  and  to  that  grace  all  the  glory  is  due. 
The  Westminster  confession  on  regeneration  express- 
ed his  views,  "If  an  act  of  omnipotence,  it  is  cer- 
tainly efficacious,  for  nothing  can  resist  almighty 
power."  Dr  Hodge  says  in  his  theology,  "Pre- 
destination and  irresistible  grace  are  the  great  key 
notes,  and  the  two  main  points  of  Calvinism.."  Elder 
Grenell  would  readily  accept  this  statement  and 
add  that  the  Divine  will  is  ''necessarily  irresisti- 
ble in  its  efficacy,  selecX.  in  its  object  and  persevering 
in  its  results." 


A    Monument  of  Sovereign  Grace.  169 

This  grace  was  magnified  by  him  in  all  his  min- 
istrations. It  was  the  strongest  element  in  the  for- 
mation of  his  character.  All  his  other  qualifications, 
whether  natural  or  acquired,  were  in  subordination 
to  this.  It  was  the  inspiration  of  his  work.  He 
often  used  to  quote  as  an  index  of  his  belief,  the 
words  of  Dodrige: 

Grace  first  contrived  the  way 

To  save  rebellious  man, 
And  all  the  steps  that  grace   display 

Which  drew  the  heavenly   plan. 

Grace  led  my  roving  feet 
To  tread  the  heavenly  road; 

And  new  supplies  each  hour  I  meet. 
While  pressing  on  to  God. 

Grace  all  the  work  shall  crown 
Through  everlasting  days. 

It  lays  in  heaven,  the  topmost  stone. 
And  well  deserves  the  praise. 

In  an  old  hymn  book  published  in  1807,  by  John 
Inglesby,  is  a  hymn  of  sixteen  verses,  often  repeat- 
ed by  him.     The  second  verse  is, 


170  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

"'Twas  not  from  the  creature 
Salvation  took  place, 

The  whole  was  of  God,  to 
The  praise  of  his  grace' 

And  all  to  his  glory- 
Shall  tend  bye  and  bye, 

To  accomplish  the  lifting 
Of  Jesus  on  high." 
\  A  declaration  of  Paul  was,  **  We  also  believe  and 
therefore  speak."  The  Psalmst  had  centuries  before 
made  the  same  declaration.  A  real  and  powerful 
force  in  the  formation  of  character,  and  in  giving 
utterance  to  a  herald  of  the  cross,  is  faith.  A  rigid 
and  unyielding  creed  will  render  a  man  unyielding 
and  positive  in  his  ministrations.  The  creating  pow- 
er of  divine  grace,  so  prominent  as  an  underlying 
element  in  the  ministry  of  John  the  Baptist,  was 
made  actual  in  his  experiance  when  he  was  converted 
to  God.  Ever  after,  this  was  the  predominating 
feature  of  his  character  and  work. 

The  Apostle  to  the  Gentiles  said  of  himself  to 
the  Corinthian  Church,  '*By  the  grace  of  God  I  am 
what  I  am."  The  power  that  had  created  him  anew 
and  made  him  an  Apostle,  was  the  grace  of  Christ 
the  crucified  and  ascended  Savior.  He  had  been 
arrested  by  it  when  persecuting  the  church  and 
blaspheming  the  name  of  Christ,   and  made  a  servant 


A  Monument  OF  Sovereign  Grace.  171 

of  the  Lord  Jesus.  Durin^^  all  his  life  of  sacrifice 
and  toil  it  had  sustained  him  and  made  him  bold  in 
the  defence  of  the  gospel.  And  as  he  looked  on 
to  the  end  of  life,  it  was  with  composure  and  as- 
surance that  the  same  power  would  sustain  him 
and  be    his   everlasting   reward. 

It  is  from  this  stand  point   we  wish  to  take  the 
final  view  of  the  character  and  work  of  this  servant 
of  God.     He  was   raised   up  by   divine    providence, 
created  anew  in   Christ,    called    unto   the    ministry, 
inspired   and    sustained   through   all   his  labors   by 
divine  grace.     He  was  held   as   a  star  in    the   right 
hand    of    the   ascended    Christ.      The  principles  ac- 
tuating his   character  were   of  ''eternal  excellence." 
He   ascribed    all   within   himself,   and   all  his    work 
to  grace  alone.     Since  Christ   was  magnified  in  his 
life,    and     in    his    death,    shall    not     this    estimate 
stand   as  the  tribute  we  bring  to    his    memory  ?     It 
was  to  him    sovereign    and  irresistible  grace   in  the 
formation    of  the   character   and   in    the   life   work. 
In  a   remarkable   degree   he  **  apprehended  that  for 
which  he  had    been  apprehended    of  Christ   Jesus." 
We    bring  forth  he  top-stone  of  this  monument   to 
his  memory  with  the  inscription  **  grace,  grace   unto 
it!" 


In  Memoriam. 

North  N.  J.  Baptist  Association. 
Rev.  ZELOTES.  GRENELL, 
The  "  Bible  Preacher." 

Born,  1796.  Bom  again.  1810. 

He  labored  for  his  Lord  in  New  York  State,  at  Elmira, 

HORSEHEADS,    New  YoKK  CiTY,    OrANGE,    AND    PoRT  JeR- 

vis;  IN  Pennsylvania,  at  Hoxesdale;  and  in  New 
Jersey,  at  Glenwood,  Hackensack,  Millington, 
Paterson,   and  Wantage. 

Sixty-Five  years  of  Preaching. 

Ten  Thousand  Sermons. 

One  Thousand  Converts  Baptized. 

FELL  ASLEEP  IN  JESUS  AT  HACKENSACK, 
JUNE  21,;  1883, 

Aged  Eighty-aeven  Years  and  Two  Months, 
His  remains  were  interred  at  Cedar  Lawn  Cemetery,    Paterson,    to    await    the 
Archangel's  summons  on  the  Resurrection  Mom. 


IN  MEMORIAM. 

WAYNE  BAPTIST  ASSOCIATION 

[TO   OUR   DEPARTED    BROTHER, 

REV.  2ELOTBS  QRENELL. 

Who  for  sixty  years  £^ave  large  portions  of  his  time 
to  the  moral  and  spiritual  condition  of  the  field  occu- 
pied by  our  Association,  was  at  one  time  pastor  of 
the  Honesdale  Baptist  Church. 

BORN,  1796. 

ORDAINED  TO  THE  MINISTRY,        1819. 

DIED  JUNE  20TH,  1883. 

"Who  shall  ascend  into  the  hill  of  the  Lord?  or 
who  shall  stand  in  his  holy  place?" 

*'  He  that  hath  clean  hands  and  a  pure  heart:  who 
hath  not  lifted  up  his  soul  unto  vanity,  nor  sworn 
deceitfully.  He  shall  receive  the  blessing  from  the 
Lord  and  righteousness  from  the  God  of  his  salvation." 

"Thine  eyes  shall  behold  the  King  in  all  his  beauty." 

"  God  buries  his  workmeJt  but  carries  on  His  work!' 


Obituary  Report. 

Of 

N.   J.   Baptist  State   Convention 

At  Orange,    New  Jersey; 

OCT.  30,  31,  1833. 


Rev.  Zelotes  Grenell. — This  brother  was  born  in  Court- 
right,  Delaware  Co.,  N.Y.,  in  1796,  and  was  "born  again" 
in  1 8 10.  We  deny  that  reUgion  runs  in  the  blood,  but  if 
ever  such  an  idea  has  any  good  foundation,  it  is  to  be  found 
in  such  families  as  that  to  which  he  belonged.  He  was  of 
good  Huguenot  stock,  some  of  his  ancestry  having  sealed 
their  faith  with  their  Hves  during  the  bloody  horrors  of  St. 
Bartholomew's  Day.  He  did  not  begin  to  preach  till  twen- 
ty-one years  of  age ;  but  when  he  had  once  begun,  he  stay- 
ed not  for  sixty-five  years,  preaching  more  than  ten  thousand 
sermons,  and  leading  more  than  one  thousand  converts  into 
the  baptismal  waters.  And  such  sermons !  Those  who 
heard  him  preach  cannot  speak  of  his  discourses  now  with- 
out a  glow  of  holy  admiration.  And  such  converts !  They 
are  all  over  our  State,  true  to  their  Master — eleven  of  them 
becoming  fellow-laborers  with  him  in  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry, two  of  whom,  denominationally,  have  national  reputa- 
ions  to-day.  Oh,  for  a  company  of  such  preachers !  He 
held  pastorates  successively  with  churches  at  Wantage,  N.  J. 
Orange  N.  J.,  Paterson,  N.  J.,  Cannon  Street  New  York 
City,  Elmira,  N.  Y. ,  Paterson  again,  Horsehcads,  N.  Y., 
Honesdale,  Penn.,  Port  Jervis,  N.  Y.,  Glenwood,  Milling- 
ton,  Hackensack,  Paterson  yet  again,  all  this  State.  In  each 
and  every  one  of  these  places  his  memory  is  revered  for  what 
he  was,  as  well  as  what  he  believed.  He  had  a  firm  grasp 
of  the  doctrines  of  grace,  as  the  result  of  such  a  continuous 
study  of  the  Word  itself  as  few  now  give  it.  Thus  it  was  he 
became  known  as  "The  Bible  Preacher";  and  it  was  touching 
when  he  could  no  longer  read,  through  infirmity  of  sight,  to 
see  him  fondly  handling  the  sacred  volume,  which  he  believ- 
ed ''able  to  make  men  wise  unto  salvatson." 


FAMILY  RECORD. 

ELDER  ZELOTES  GRENELL. 


Born  April  8th, 

1796. 

Converted 

March 

1810. 

Licensed  March 

1817. 

Settlement 

May 

i8i8- 

Ordained  August  5th, 

1819. 

HIS 

PARENTS. 

Samuel  Grenell,  Born  March  24th,   1765. 
Rebecca  Wadsworth,  Born  Oct.  20th,  1766. 
They  were  married  Sept.  22nd,  1785. 
His  Brothers  and  Sisters. 
Chauncey  was  born  March  i6th,   1787 


Lucretia       " 

(< 

March  29th,  1793. 

Samuel 

(I 

Sept.  30th,    1798 

Rebecca     " 

<( 

March  20th,  1801. 

Walter 

<( 

June    2nd,     1803. 

Miron 

(i 

Sept.  1 2th,    1805. 

Ora  B. 

(( 

April  15th,    1808. 

PhebeL.    - 

it 

HIS   WIVES. 

Oct.     9th,     1810. 

Abigail  Osborn  born  Feb.  21th,  1797. 
They  were  married  Jan.  25th,  1820. 
Esther  Blain  born  Sept.  27th,  1802. 
Date  of  marriage  March  20th,  1823. 
Mrs.  Eliza  Hutton  born  March  7th,  1807, 
Date  of  marriage  March  23th,  1836. 


Family  Recobei.  ITT 


ins  CHILDREN 

Levi  Osbron  Born  Jan.   ist,   182 1. 

Abigail                ♦'  Oct.  2nd,  1822. 

increase  Marther  "  Dec.  29th,  1823. 

Julia  Ann               *'  April  15th,  1825. 

Susan                     '•  Sept.  20th  1827. 

Rebecca               "  Oct.  23  th,  1829' 

Mary                       "  Oct.  20th,    1831. 

Esther                  "  Feb.   9th,    1833' 

Emma                 *•  May  4th,    1837. 

William  Burt      "  April  17th,  1839. 

Zelotes                *•  Feb.  25th,  1841- 

Eliza  Kelly        *'  Dec.   9th,  1842. 

Elmira                 *'  July  19th,  1844. 

Adoniram  Judson  **  April  i8th,  1847. 


HIS  FIELDS  OF   LABOR. 


Second  Wantage   N.  J.  May    1818  to  Oct.  1822. 

Orange  Church  N.  Y.  Nov.   1822  *'  Oct  1833.. 

Paterson  N.  J.  Nov.   1833  ''  Oct.  1838. 

Cannon  St.  N.  Y.  City.  Nov.  1838  "  Oct.  1842. 

Elmira  N.  Y.  Nov.  1842  "  Oct.  1847. 

Paterson  N.  J.  Nov.  1847  *'  Dec.  185 1. 

Horseheads  N.  J.  Jan.     1852  '*  Sept.  1853, 

Honesdale  Pa.  Oct.  1853  ''  March  1855. 

Port  Jervis  N.  J.  April  1855  "  Sept.  1861. 

Glenwood  N.  J.  Nov  1861  "  April  1865. 

Millington  N.  J.  May  1865  "  Dec.  1871. 

Hackensack  N.  J.  Jan.     1872    "March  1875. 

Paterson  3rd' Church  Oct.     1875    ''    Nov.  1881. 


178  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

his  term  of  service. 
A  continued    public  service  in   the    active    duties 
of  the  ministry    of  sixty-four    years    from  May  1818 
June   1882. 

HIS   RESTING  PLACE. 

He  is  buried  in  Cedar  Lawn  Cemetery  near  Pat- 
erson  N.  J,  on  a  plot  of  ground  given  to  him  by 
the  ladies  of  the  First  Church  of  which  he  had  been 
twice  the  pastor. 

HIS   RECORD. 

A  man  of  God,  of  unblemished  character,  adhering 
to  the  one  purpose  of  preaching  the  gospel  of  Christ 
for  sixty-five  years.  His  true  record  is  on  High. 
"Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant."  "  Blessed 
are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord." 

A   RECORD   OF    DEATHS. 


His    wife    Abigail 

died 

Oct.    i6th, 

1822 

His  wife    Esther 

«« 

April  27th, 

1835- 

His  sister  Lucretia 

n 

July     15th, 

1810. 

His   father   Samuel 

n 

Oct.     4th, 

1841. 

His  brother  Miron 

i( 

March  13th, 

1847. 

His  brother  Chauncey 

(( 

June      1st, 

1848. 

His  mother  Rebecca 

<< 

Feb.    2ist, 

1851. 

His  sister  Rebecca 

(< 

Dec.  20th, 

1864. 

His  brother  Samuel 

<< 

April  26th, 

1872. 

His  sister  Phebe  L. 

ii 

Nov. 

i88r. 

His  brother  Walter 

<< 

Nov.  7th, 

i88r. 

His  brother  Ora  B. 

t  < 

1882. 

Himself  the  last  of  the  family  died  June  21st,  1883. 


Family  Record.  179 

DEATH    OF   CHILDREN. 
His  daughter  Mary  died  Jan.  20th,   I832. 

Eliza  ''  April    5th,   1851. 

His  daughter  Julia  Ann  Mills"  Dec.  28th,    1854. 

'*     Rebecca  Reed     *'  April  17th,  1864. 

"     Esther  Smith       ''  Nov.  22th,   1865. 

"     Abigail  Fanches  "  Dec.  3rd     1869. 

A  RECORD  OF  THE  LIVING. 
There  survive  him  his  wife  Eliza  and  eight  chil- 
dren. Of  the  children  now  living  William  Burt,  is 
in  Astoria,  Oregon;  Zelotes  and  Adoniram  Judscn, 
are  in  Detroit,  Michigan;  Increase  Mather  is  in. 
New  York  City;  Emma  is  residing  at  Port  Jervis, 
N.  Y.;  Susan  and  Elmira  are  living  at  Hackensack 
N.  J;  and  Levi  Osborn  is  located  at  Roselle   N.  J 


Appendix. 


CORRFSPONDENCE      BETWEEN      ELDER     GtT^BERT 

Beebe  and  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 


About  the  time  of  the  separation  of  the  Baptist  Churches  in  the 
United  States  into  the  Old  and  New  Schools. 

New  Vernon,  Dec.  27,  1830. 
Dear  Brother  Grenell: 

Having  understood  that  you  was  aggrieved  with  the  church 
with  which  I  labor,  in  connection  with  myself  also,  on  account  oC 
the  letter  which  was  written  in  answer  to  the  communicatioii 
which  we  received  from  the  Orange  County  Baptist  Society— ap- 
prehensive as  I  am  that  your  grief  has  originated  in  a  misun- 
derstanding of  our  intentions  in  that  communication,  I  feel  my- 
self callel  upon  by  a  sense  cf  duty  to  address  to  you  the  follow- 
ing lines;  hoping  thereby  with  the  divine  blessing  on  my  labor," 
to  remove  all  difficulties  and  to  perpetuate  that  bond  of  christian 
love  and  fellowship  which  has  hitherto  existed  between  thee  ami 
me  as  brethren  and  fellow-laborers,  and  also  between  thee  and 
the  church  in  this  place. 

In  the  first  place,  I  wish  to  refer  you  to  the  decision  of  the 
Association  on  the  queries  from  the  New  Vernon  and  Wallkill 
churches.  The  committee,  of  which  you  was  chairman,  recom- 
mended that  "individuals  and  churches  should  believe  and  judgo 
for  themselves  and  act  accordingly"  (see  minutes).  Your  report 
was  adopted.  In  perfect  accordance  with  your  own  advice,  wo 
have  "Delieved,"  "judged,"  and  "acted."  Have  we  done  righto,. 
wrong?  If  right,  do  not  censure  us.  If  wrong,  do  not  forget  v.  e 
were    advised   on  the  subject,  and  forgive. 

I  have  been  told  that  rou  said  you  considered  that  by  om- 
letter  this    chuich  had    wilhdit.wa     all  fellowship  from   you  aiul 


184  Elder  Zelotes  Grexell. 

find  all  the  brethren  concerned  in  the  Orange  County  Baptist 
Society,  I  can  assure  you  that  this  was  very  far  from  our  inten- 
tions as  a  church,  and  nothing  more  remote  from  my  own  mean- 
iT  g  on  the  subject.  I  confess  I  have  never  had  any  fellowship 
for  any  of  the  popular  institutions  of  the  day.  Some  of  my  rea- 
sons I  will  give  in  a  subsequent  part  of  this  letter.  But  believe 
me,  my  dear  brother,  since  the  death  of  the  venerable  Elder  Van 
Volsen,  I  have  never  found  a  minister  of  the  gospel  for  whom 
I  felt  so  much  nearness,  christian  love  and  fellowship,  as  your- 
self. I  have  and  do  still  love  you  for  the  work's  sake.  Consid- 
ering that  the  present  is  a  day  of  error,  there  are  but  probably 
few  to  be  found  who  are,  generally  speaking,  more  united  in  the 
doctrine  of  salvation  by  grace.  I  do  not  know  that  we  differ 
essentially  in  regard  to  the  doctrine,  discipline,  or  the  ordinances 
of  the  House  of  God.  In  christian  experience,  I  believe  we  have 
both  drank  of  the  same  fountain.  Our  difference  of  views  is 
wholly  of  a  different  nature.  As  far  as  your  kindness  has  applied 
to  me  as  an  individual  I  am  not  insensible  to  the  laws  of  grati- 
tude. But  you  will  suffer  a  remark  concerning  my  ordination 
and  your  recommending  me  to  the  favor  of  the  brethren  of  this 
church.  And  first,  I  think  you  had  higher  motives  in  view  than 
my  personal  interest  or  accommodation.  You  acted  for  God  in 
these  particulars.  Secondly,  I  did  not  dissemble  when  examined 
by  the  council.  I  answered  all  your  questions  honestly,  accord- 
ing to  the  best  of  my  abilities.  And  I  am  now  precisely  what  I 
was  then  in  reference  to  missionary,  and  other  societies ;  and  far- 
ther, I  am  now  what  I  then  took  you  to  be  on  the  same  subjects. 
There  has  been  some  difference  of  opinion  between  me  and 
some  of  my  brethren  touching  the  propriety  of  answering  the 
letter  which  we  received  from  the  society.  Some  have  deemed  it 
inexpedient  to  make  any  reply,  but  I  insisted  on  a  reply  being 
sent,  upon  the  following  grounds  First,  because  your  circular 
requested  it;  secondly,  because  whenever  we  are  collectively  or 
individually  called  upon  to  co-operate  in  any  thing  which  pro- 
fesses to  have  the  glory  of  God  or  the  interests  of  his  cause 
in  view,  especially  when  we  are  called  upon  by  brethren  whom 
we  love  and  fellowship  to  co-operate  in  an  undertaking  which  we 
cannot  fellowship,  I  believe  it  to  be  our  indispensable  duty  to 
give   our  reasons    why    we    cannot    co-operate.     Indeed  I  don't 


CORRESrONDENCE.  185 

tliink  it  woulu  he.  usiiifj  you  Avell  to  pass  your  coiumunicfition 
by  in  silence.  If  there  was  anything  in  our  letter  which  was 
abusive  or  that  amounted  to  a  dis-fellowship  of  the  brethren 
any  farther  than  to  disapprove  of  the  institution,  I  have  not 
discovered  it  nor  meant   it. 

I  dis-fellowship  the  Orange  County  Baptist  Society,  as  such, 
because  it  is  in  my  oj)inion  without  example  or  precept  in  the 
Bible,  which  I  profess  to  take  as  my  standard  of  faith  ani.! 
practice.  Because  it  will  not  (in  ni}'  opinion)subserve  the  interests 
of  Zlon.  Because  neither  Jesus  Christ  nor  his  Apostles  have 
ever  established  any  society  other  than  the  church.  Bec.iuse 
all  other  societies  are  invented  by  man.  Because  this  society 
receives  members  for  fifty  cents  each  without  regard  to  any 
other  qualification  than  the  cash.  Because  infidels  and  other 
corrupt  men  can  thereby  become  members  of  a  Baptist  societ\ 
without  regeneration  or  immersion.  ,  Because  this  institution 
requires  in  its  organization  such  officers  as  are  unknown  in 
the  Bible.  Because  no  Executive  Committee  or  Board  have  a 
right  (in  my  opinion)to  control  the  merssengers  of  Immanuel, 
by  directing  their  course,  telhng  them  where  to  go,  how  long 
to  stay  and  v/hat  remuneration  to  receive,  &c.  Because  no 
minister  of  Christ  has  a  right  to  contract  in  the  abov^  manner, 
\A'ith  any  Board  or  body  of  men.  Because  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee having  all  this  authority  vested  in  them  by  the  society 
are  chosen  by  a  majority  of  votes  given  by  any  one,  saint  or 
sinner,  who  \A'ill  purchase  a  bivth-right  in  the  institution.  Bo- 
cause  the  same  honors  are  ascribed  to  similar  institutions  that 
Aaron  ascribed  to  the  gold3n.  cilf,  viz.,  Tkese  he  thy  God-i 
tchich  browjht  thee  out  of  the  land  of  Ejypt.  You  will  recollect  it 
was  said  at  Brookfield  that  "this  Association  owes  its  existence 
to  Missionary  Societies,"  &g.  Because  this  institution  makes  a 
schism  in  the  church,  sows  discord  between  very  friends,  divides 
churches  &c.  Because  this  institution  is  calculated  like  all 
similar  institutions,  to  unite  the  church  and  the  world,  or 
state,  by  incorporating  materials  from  both  into  a  religious 
confederation.  Lastly,  because  the  Lord  of  the  Harvest  is  as 
mighty  and  able  to  thrust  laborers  into  his  vineyard  as  ever,  and 
"his  arm  is  not  shortened"  and  he  has  directed  his  children  to 
pray  unto  him  tor  all  these  things. 


186  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

I  have  given  you  thirteen  or  fourteen  reasons  (out  of  the  hun- 
dred which  might  be  added)why  I  am  conscientiously  opposed 
to  the  society  in  question.  Remove  these  difficulties,  and  I 
^\dll  endeavor  to  co-oj)erate  with  you*  Till  then  I  ask  only  for 
that  liberty  of  conscience  which  you  and  the  Association  re- 
commended at  our  last  session. 

I  have  much  more  to  say  to  you  on  this  subject,  but  my 
gheet  will  contain  but  a  small  portion  of  what  I  would  com- 
municate. 

If  this  subject  makes  a  dis-fellowship  between  you  and  me, 
you  must  make  it  so,  I  do  not.  I  consider  you  in  an  error  in 
this  particular,  and  I  pray  earnestly  that  the  Lord  may  bring 
you  out  and  make  you  shine  brighter  than  ever.  In  the  mean- 
time let  me  admonish  you  as  a  brother  to  reconsider  the  whole 
matter,  ask  counsel  of  God  who  giveth  liberally.  Let  not  the 
glittering  bait  of  popularity  or  any  other  temptation  cause  you 
to  err.  Leave  the  fame  and  honor  of  all  human  inventions 
to  men  whose  element  is  in  such  things.  Go  unto  your  Lord 
without  the  camp,  shun  not  to  bear  his  reproach.  Tremble  not 
for  the  Ark;  God  will  take  care  of  it.  Be  a  good  soldier  for 
jesus.  Be  faithful  unto  death,  and  God  will  give  you  a  crown 
of  Glory. 

I  consider  the  representative  phm  adopted  by  the  New  York 
Association,  far  preferable  to  the  Orange  County  Baptist  Society, 
if  I  understand  it;  bnt  I  am  not  wholly  satisfied  with  that. 
If  our  churches  would  by  voluntary  contributions  (without  sell- 
ing membership)raise  a  fund  in  each  church,  let  it  be  deposited 
in  the  hands  of  one  of  the  deacons  or  other  members,  let  the 
church  draw  from  this  fund  from  time  to  time  such  drafts  as 
they  shall  think  proper,  and  give  it  to  such  poor  itinerant 
preachers  as  they  are  in  fellowship  v/ith.  I  should  be  much 
pleased  with  such  an  arrangement  wholly  carried  on  under  the 
direction  of  the  churches  as  indepeidcnt  bodies;  or  othe  wise 
as  I  proposed  at  Brookfield.  I  will  bear  an  equal  share  of  the 
burden  with  my  brethren  in  the  ministry  if  they,  on  their 
part  will  divide  their  time  and  service  more  equally  among  all 
the  churches  in  the  Association. 

The  church  at  Newfoundland  have  at  length  consented  to 
give  Brother  J.  Abers  a  council.  They  have  named  Brethren 
Broom.    N.   Maxtip.    Deacon    Clay    Bowven    and    a    member    of 


CORE  ESPONDENCE.  1 8  4 

Newton   Cliurcb,      Joel  has    sent  for   me  and     Brother    Harding 
to   come   down   as   witnesses   the   first  Saturday     in   January  next. 

I  expect  to  go.  I  do  most  earnestly  request  your  persona, 
presence  at  that  meeting,  as  much  will  depend  on  the  develop, 
ment  of  facts  then  and  there  to  bo  made,  also  the  decision  of 
the  council.  You  know  something  of  the  nature  of  the  dilfi. 
oulty,  and  if  it  should  so  turn  out  that  the  council  should 
lecide  against  Brother  Abers,  brethren  Harding,  Ball,  Terry, 
Beebe  and  others  would  be  implicated,  you  know.  I  wish  you 
and  all  our  ciinistering  brethren  if  possible,  to  attend,  that 
they  may  know  the  utmost  of  this  affair,    &c. 

I  have  been  afflicted  with  a  very  bad  cold  ever  since  I  saw 
you.  My  wife  is  not  in  very  good  health*  It  is  a  general 
time  of  colds.  Remember  jpe  affectionately  *o  Sister  Grenell 
and  the  brethren  and  friends  at  Orange.  "Write  me,  if  you 
have  time  to  spare,  and  be  assured  I  remain  with  affection. 
Yours  in  the  best  of    bonds, 

GiuBKBT  Beebe. 
ELDER   Z.   CRENELLE 

P.  S.  Elder  Harding  and  I  talk  of  going  down  the  mountain 
voad.  If  so,  we  shall  not  pass  by  your  house.  Don't  let  that 
hinder  your  attending  the  meeting.  I  do  thiuk,  if  the  case  were 
reversed,  I  would  attend  on  your  request;;  and  certainly  you  are 
as  good  and  obliging  as  I  am.  At  all  events  I  trust  I  shall  see  you^ 
going  or  coming,  if  not  at  Newfoundland.  If  I  write  any  more 
on  this  sheet,  I  shall  cheat  the  paper  market.  G.  B. 

REPLY  TO  THE  FOREGOING. 

Unionville,  March  22,  1831. 
Dear  Brother  Beebb: 

A  letter  from  you  bearing  date  December  27,  1830,  reached  mo 
.ibout  three  or  four  weeks  after  it  was  written;  consequently,  it 
was  too  late  for  me  to  comply  with  your  request  in  reference  to 
the  expected  council  at  Newfoundland,  for  the  time  had  gone  by. 
But  as  there  is  much  in  your  letter  on  another  subject,  I  shall 
turn  my  attention  to  that  subject. 

You  inform  me  that  you  are  now  in  the    same  sentiments  on 


188  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

the  subject  of  Missionary  Societies  that  you  was  when  you  was 
ordained,  and  that  you  then  took  me  to  be  of  the  same  opinion. 
I  am  truly  sorry  that  you  have  been  so  much  mistaken  in  ref- 
erence to  my  sentiments,  and  that  I  was  equally  as  much  so 
in  yours.  I  did  not  then  know  that  among  all  the  lovers  af 
Christ,  there  was  or  could  be  an  Anti-missionary.  You  will 
probably  recollect  that  a  short  time  after  your  ordination  we 
attended  the  Hudson  Kiver  Association.  A  collection  was  made 
for  Domestic  Missions.  You  and  I  sat  on  one  seat  We  each 
contributed  our  mites  for  that  purpose.  This  was  sufficient  t6 
convince  j'ou  that  I  was  in  favor  of  the  object,  and  I  thought 
that  I  might  draw  the  same  touching  you.  If  you  then  built 
up  the  things  which  you  destroy,  you  made  yourself  a  trans- 
gressor. 

At  a  meeting  held  with  the  Walkill  church,  pursuant  to  ap- 
pointment of  our  Association,  to  devise  some  plan  to  supply 
the  destitute  with  preaching,  there  I  learned  for  the  fii-st  timo 
that  a  Baptist  Minister  could  be  an  Anti-missionary.  You  here 
had  an  opportunity  to  know  my  mind  in  full.  At  a  social 
meeting  held  at  Brother  BalFs  the  query,  "In  what  way  does 
God  intend  to  send  the  Gospel  to  the  heathen?"  was  discussed. 
You  there  had  my  mind  in  length,  breadth,  and  depth  on  that 
subject.  Query:  In  view  of  all  this,  how  can  you  say  that  Elder 
Murphy  has  been  the  cause  of  leading  me  into  this  sentiment  and 
practice  ? 

You  profess  much  fellowship  for  me  in  particular,  and  I  believe 
you  are  sincere  in  that  prafession.  But  how  to  reconcile  that  with 
some  other  things  I  find  not.  If  our  society  Ls  a  calf, (probably  in 
allusion  to  the  golden  one  which  Aai*on  made),  if  it  is  a  hmb  of 
antichrist,  if  it  has  the  mark  of  the  beast,  and  you  knov/  I  am  in 
fuU  fellowship  with  it  and  a  principal  instrament  in  promoting  it, 
consequently  I  am  rearing  and  worshiping  a  calf,  promoting  an- 
tichrist, and  have  the  mark  of  the  beast.  For  if  the  Missionary 
cause  is  Anti-christian,  I  acknowledge  I  am  a  lover  and  in  full 
fellowship  with  antichrist,  query :  what  communion  hath  light 
with  darkness,  or  a  tnie  Gospel  minister  with  one  who  suj)ports 
antichrist  ? 

Your  fourteen  reasons  for  Tinfellowshiping  our  Missionary 
Societies,    remind  me  of  forty-two  reasons,   a   man  not  long  since 


CORRESPENDNCE.  189 

"gave  why  be  could  not  be  a  Baptist.  Probably  you  have  seen 
them  in  point,  I  think  that  his  arguments  are  about  as  weighty 
as  yours.  Your  fourteen  reasons  may  be  reduced  to  six  heads : 
1. — No  authority  in  Scripture  for  such  a  society  ;  2, — no  mention 
of  such  ofl&cers  as  President,  Secretary  &c ;  3. — too  much  power 
is  attributed  to  them  ;  4— .they  unite  church  and  world  ;  5.— they 
limit  the  bounds  of  the  preacher  and  make  him  a  hireling;  6, — they 
sow  discord  among  brethren.  If  I  am  not  much  mistaken,  all 
these  objections  have  as  much  force  against  many  things  which 
you  admit  and  practice,  as  they  have  against  that  which  you 
oppose,  1, —  Where  is  our  express  authority  for  building  meet- 
ing houses,  for  holding  a  council  to  decide  whether  a  preacher 
shall  be  ordained,  and  for  having  a  yearly  association  of  ministers 
and  brethren,  and  for  sending  them  a  string  of  knotty  questions 
to  answer,  and  for  examining  candidates  for  baptism  before  the 
church?  2, — Where  is  our  authority  for  having  the  offices  of 
church  clerk,  chorister,  moderator  in  church  meeting,  trustees 
of  church  property  &c,  3, — Some  teach  that  Baptism  is  regenera- 
tion ;  that  the  bread  and  wine  in  communion  are  the  real  body 
and  blood  of  Christ ;  that  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  is  that 
which  saves  from  hell.  Here  too  much  is  made  of  these  things, 
therefore  reject  them.  4, — I  have  heard  that  some  who  are  not 
members  of  your  church,  have  been  trustees  of  your  church 
property,  or  managers  if  you  please,  I  understand  that  a  num- 
ber of  your  subscribers  are  not  members  of  your  church,  and 
yet  you  receive  their  money.  I  have  seen  many  in  your  gallery, 
and  heard  them  sing  who  do  not  even  profess  religion.  Here 
you  fellowship  the  wicked  as  actors  in  the  public  worship  of 
God.  I  also  understand  you  celebrate  the  rite  of  matrimony 
between  saint  and  sinner,  and  thus  unite  him  that  believeth  with 
an  infidel.  5* — I  have  heard  that  you  are  recognized  as  the 
pastor  of  the  church  in  New  Vernon,  and  receive  a  salary.  Some 
covetous  man  may  tell  you  that  you  had  no  right  to  thus  hire 
out,  and  that  the  church  had  no  right  to  hire  you  and  thus 
limit  your  labors  which  makes  you  a  hireling.  6. — What  point 
of  doctrine,  experience  or  practice  has  not  sown  discord  among 
brethren?  When  Luther  arose  to  set  bDunds  to  the  ambition 
of  the  Pope  he  sowed  discord  among  brethren.  When  the  true 
w'.iuesscs  in   ancient  times  rejected  the  mother  of  Harlots  they 


190  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

sowed  discord  among  brethren.  So  with  the  Baptists  in  Piedmont, 
Germany,  Old  England  and  New  England,  all  have  sowed  dis- 
cord among  brethren.  And  I  remember  that  when  the  box  of 
ointment  was  broken  and  our  Lord  was  anointed  with  its  con- 
tents it  was  the  cause  of  sowing  discord  among  brethren.  One 
of  the  brethren  was  offended  and  cried,  "Why  this  waste"?  and 
that  in  the|true  anti-missionary  spirit.  My  Lord  came  not  to 
send  peace  but  division  and  discord. 

It  is  well  known  that  two  witnesses  are  all  that  is  necessary 
to  establish  one  point.  When  I  see  a  man  bring  fourteen  wit- 
nesses into  court  all  to  prove  one  thing,  and  he  tells  me  he 
could  bring  hundreds  more,  I  begin  to  think  he  is  conscious 
that  his  witnesses  are  not  of  the  best  kind ;  and  thus  he  wishes 
to  make  up  in  number  and  bulk  what  is  lacking  in  weight. 
When  you  have  got  arguments  in  your  mind  to  prove  yourself 
right  in  the  things  which  you  practice,  as  noted  above,  then 
yoU  will  have  all  the  arguments  I  need  to  remove,  your  four- 
teen objections.  "Happy  is  he  that  condemneth  not  himself  in 
the  things  which  he  does  allow." 

Your  exhortation  to  me  is  very  good,  and  your  admonition 
also.  I  have  examined  the  subject  again  aud  again,  and  that  in 
prayer  to  God  for  wisdom,  and  it  shines  more  and  more  ,  and 
I  have  no  more  doubt  that  it  is  commended  and  approved  of 
God  than  I  have  that  there  is  a  God,  and  I  now  say  that  I 
know  of  only  four  Baptist  minisiers  on  earth  who  are  anti-mis- 
sionaries, and  three  of  them  live  in  one  church.  The  facts  is, 
the  very  quarter  from  whence  the  opposition  proceeds  is  an  in- 
con  testible  witness  that  it  is  from  heaven.  Whatever  the  devil 
and  the  Pope  and  infidels  of  every  grade  hate  must  be  good,  for 
there  is  not  an  infidel  paper  in  circulation  but  what  is  anti- 
missionary  ;  and  it  is  painful  to  reflect  that  Satan  has  got  some 
few  of  Gad's  children  to  assist  him  in  opposing  the  spread  of  the 
Gospel.  That  it  is  abused,  I  admit;  and  so  is  every  institution  of 
heaven,  and  that,  bythose  who  are  its  professed  advocates.  Could 
all  that  the  apostles  did  in  executing  their  commission  in  Judea, 
Samaria  and  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  be  hid  from  view, 
could  all  the  sacrifices  that  christians  have  made  in  every  age  from 
that  day  to  this  in  spreading  the  Gospel  be  struck  from  the  page 
of  history,  while  two  passages  of  God's  word  are  left,  I    have   all 


Correspondence.  191 

thcit  I  want  as  a  warrant  to  duty  ir  this  thing :  1 — Go  ye  into 
all  the  world  and  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature;  2. — They 
that  preach  the  Gospel  shall  live  of  the  Gospel.  Here  is  sufficient 
proof  to  meet  and  confront  all  the  arguments  that  can  be  brought 
from  both  worlds,  in  opposition  to  the  spread  cf  the  Gospel. 

You  exhort  me  not  to  tremble  for  the  ark,  and  wish  me  to  have 
much  faith.  If  you  wish  me  to  possess  that  kind  of  faithl which 
lulls  to  sleep,  which  is  not  manifested  by  works  and  which  says 
"I  have  nothing  to  do,"  I  would  inform  you  that  I  have  too  much 
of  it  already.  But  if  you  mean  that  faith  which  leads  its  possessor 
to  devote  his  time,  talents,  and  property  to  the  service  of  God, 
yea,  that  which  made  Paul  willing  to  endure  all  things  for  the 
elect's  sake  that  they  might  obtain  the  salvation  which  is  in  Christ 
Jesus  with  eternal  glory,  this  faith,  I  acknowledge,  I  need  more 
of,  and  would  say,  '0  Lord  increase  my  faith."  Yea,  I  fain  would 
like  Abraham,  be  strong  iu  faith,  giving  glory  to  God,  and  that 
by  bringing  forth  much  fruit. 

Again,  j'ou  exhort  me  to  go  forth  unto  Chrtst  without  the  camp 
bearing  his  reproach.  This  is  very  timely  and  very  kind,  and  I 
acknowledge  to  you  and  above  all  to  God  that  I  have  been  very 
deficient  on  this  ground.  I  have  gone  too  much  with  the  world 
in  their  love  of  money.  I  have  too  little  opposed  their  vain  con- 
duct and  maxims  in  opposing  the  spread  of  the  Gospel.  While  God 
has  given  me  property,  I  have  too  much  shut  up  my  bowels  of 
compassion  against  the  perishing  heathen,  I  have  too  much  said 
to  the  poor  saints  who  are  destitute  of  the  Gospel,  •*  Be  ye  warmed 
and  fed,"  while  I  have  not  done  all  that  I  might  have  done  in 
sending  or  carrjnng  the  Gospel  to  them.  And  I  desire  hereafter 
to  be  more  engaged  fn  doing  my  duty,  and  by  precept  and  example 
teach  others  to  do  theirs.  I  know  that  in  doing  this  I  shall  meet 
with  strong  opposition  from  many  who  profess  to  love  God  and 
perhaps  a  few  who  really  do.  And  I  know  that  the  world  and 
Satan  will  oppose ;  but  I  have  counted  the  cost  and  hope  to  be 
willing  to  endure  the  cross  and  count  the  reproaches  of  Christ 
greater  riches  than  all  the  treasures  of  the   world. 

I  shall  conclude  this  epistle  with  a  few  remarks.  I  was  truly 
surprised  at  some  remarks  which  I  heard  that  you  had  made  in 
the  pulpit  in  the  Mount  Salem  meeting  house  the  time  of  our  last 
exchange.  But  I  wish  these  and  other  things  like  them  to  be 
buried  in  ohlivlon. 


1 92  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

I  still  hold  you  as  one  of  the  Lord's  Ministers  in  fellowship  with 
me;  although  I  think  that  your  anti-mis;?ionary  spirit  and  sentiments 
are  a  contradition  of  this  term,  and  prove  that  every  preacher  has 
not  every  mark  of  being  so, 

I  attribute  your  opposition  to  a  want  of  information.  This  is 
the  most  charitable  conclusion  I  can  make,  and  I  wish  to  have 
that  charity  which  covers  a  multitude  of  sins. 

I  wish  you  ever  after  this  to  consider  me  as  favorable  to 
Missionary  operations,  and  remember  that  I  now  say  that  I  was 
never  otherwise,  and  cannot  conceive  how  a  true  child  of  God 
can  be  in   the  ranks  of  those   who   o]3pose  it. 

The  first  breath  of  Gospel  liberty  my  soul  ever  breathed  in- 
haled a  desire  that  this  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost  might  be  ex- 
tended to  others.  It  was  a  desire  which  knew  no  bounds  but 
the  utmost  bounds  of  the  earth.  That  vital  spark  has  never 
ceased  to  burn,  although  not  always  to  the  same  degree,.  V/hile 
this  burn?,  I  must  alwaj's  be  a  Missionary  in  desire,  faith  and 
practice.  When  this  dies,  if  I  am  then  in  the  body,  I  shall 
then  be  an  anti-missionary. 

You  have  drawn  the  sword  on  this  subject ;  I  have  followed 
you.  I  hope  you  will  not  sheath  it  until  you  have  done  all 
you  can.  I  write  you  to  bring  all  your  strong  arguments,  yea 
all  which  can  be  brought  from  three  worlds.  If  the  cause  which 
I  espouse  will  not  endure  investigation,  I  desire  to  give  it  up. 
I  hope   to   hear  from  you  soon. 

Yours  to  serve  in   the  Gospel  of  Christ, 

Z.    Gbenell. 


REVIVAL   INCIDENT. 

When  laboring-  in    Paterson   N.  J.  he  preached  a 

course    of    sermons    on    revivals    of  religion.      The 

themes  of  these  sermons   were  from  a  series  given  by 

Rev.  Pinney,  the  great  revivalist.  The  peculiarities  of 

the  effort  were,  first,  that  the  interest  increased  and 

the  meeting  advanced  and  kept  pace  with  the  theme 

of   discourse.      When    the    sermon   was  to  inquirers 

there  were  anxious  inquirers  ready  to  hear  it.     When 

the  address  was    to    converts,    there    were    converts 

awaiting  the  message.     And,  second,  the  revival  was 
one    of  great    power    and    blessing.       It    continued 

through  the  winter,  and  brought  seventy-five  hope- 
ful converts  into  the  church. 

The  following  verse  was  repeated  to  the  author 
by  one  of  the  aged  disciples  yet  living,  who  was 
a  warm  personal  friend  of  Elder  Grenell.  He  re- 
peated it  as  Elder  Grenell's  composition,  and  with 
the  tears  trickling  down  his  cheeks,  adding,  "He 
was  very  dear  to  us." 

*'  Zelotes  Grenell  is  my  name, 
America  is  my  nation ; 
My  station  is  the  harvest  field, 
And  Christ  is  my  salvation." 


SERMONS. 

NOTE.— It  Hliould  be  understood  that  the  sermons  following  are 
not  full  length  discourses.  Those  who  are  accustomed  to  preach 
will  at  once  discern  the  readiness  with  which  many  subdivisions 
would  be  expanded  in  delivery,  as  well  as  the  necessity  of  such 
enlargenaent. 

THANKSGIVING    AT    MILLINGTON. 

A  Thanksgiving  Sermon,  preached  in  the  Baptist  Church 
of  Milhngton,  New  Jersey,  Novmeber,  24,  1870,  by  Elder 
Zelotes  Grenell. 

Text:  "According  to  this  time  it  shaU  be  said  of  Jacob, 
and  of  Israel,  'What  hath  God  wrought?'"  (Numbers  23:23.  ) 

The  children  of  Israel,  in  the  fortieth  year  of  their  sojourn, 
encamped  in  the  plain  of  Moab.  The  rulers  of  Moab  and 
Midian  were  greatly  alarmed,  and  sent  for  Baalam,  a  noted 
soothsayer,  to  come  and  curse  them.  He  came  with  the 
desire  to  do  so,  but  God  interposed  and  compelled  him  to 
pronounce  sundry  blessings  on  them,  and  my  text  is  one 
of  them. 

The  text  atlirms  that  God's  special  goodness  to  them  had 
been  such  in  the  past,  and  would  from  this  time  be  such, 
that  others,  even  their  enemies,  would  in  astonishment 
utter   the    exclamation,    "  W/ia/  hath  God  wrought"/ 

Friends  and  fellow  citizens :  as  this  is  the  day  set 
apart  by  the  Chief  IMagistrate  for  National  Thanksgiving, 
let  us  now  pause  a  moment  and  proceed  to  a  hasty  view 
of  our    history    as    developinii^     the    special    care    of   Divine 


Thanksgiving  at  Millington. 

providence  for  our  nation's  good.   We  see  evidences  of  this, 
Firstly — In  our  origin  as  a  nation. 

I.  Though  Columbus  discovered  America  in  1492, 
and  the  southern  portion  commenced  being  settled  soon 
after,  no  permanent  settlement  vras  effected  in  the  northern 
portion  till  1607,  a  period  of  one  hundred  and  fifteen  years. 
During  that  interval  the  great  Reformation  broke  out  in 
Germany  and  swept  over  France,  Switzerland,  England, 
Scotland,  Denmark,  and  Sweden— all  the  north  of  Europe, 
embracing  especially  all  those  countries  from  which  our 
land  was  settled.  Hence,  while  South  America  was  settled 
by  Paptists,  North  America  was  settled  by  Protestants, 
with  an  open  Bible  and  an  evangelical  faith  and  civiliza- 
tion. 

2.  Shortly  before  the  settlement  of  New  England,  a  fatal 
disease  raged  among  the  native  Indians,  and  thousands 
were  swept  away,  leaving  vacant  much  territory,  which  had 
been  occupied.  Moreover,  much  jealousy  existed,  and 
many  wars  had  occurred  among  neighboring  tribes,  by  which 
they  had  been  greatly  reduced,  and  in  consequence  some 
soon  became  our  faithful  allies.  By  these  means  the  col- 
onies were  saved  from  ruin,  and  finally  gained  an  ascend- 
ency   over  the  most  powerful  tribes. 

3.  The  unsettled  condition  of  European  governments, 
their  revolutions,  and  especially  the  persecution  of  the 
Puritans,  drove  large  numbers  to  our  shores,  and  rapidly 
increased  our  population.  The  persecutions  furnished  us 
the  most  valuable  materials  out  of  which  to  form  a  pe- 
manent  government.  This  was  especially  true  of  New 
England.  Hence,  by  1776,  we  had  increased  to  three  mil- 
lions of  souls. 

Secondly — In  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  from  1776  to 
1782,   by  which  we  became  an  independent    people. 


Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

•i  I.  Great  Britain  ^vas  far  from  being  united  in  procccut- 
ing  the  war.  Many  of  her  citizens,  and  some  who  occu- 
pied high  places  of  influence,  had  relations  living  here 
whom  they  highly  esteemed.  This  prevented  them  from 
prosecuting  the  war  with  their  accustomed  vigor. 

2.  France  and  England  were  hostile  nations.  Many  wars 
had  occurred  between  them.  England  had  succeeded  in 
taking  Canada  from  France,  and  was  threatening  her  western 
possessions.  This  gave  us  a  powerful  ally  in  the  French 
nauon,  which  encouraged  us,  and  discouraged  our  enemies. 
Other  European  nations  soon  followed  the  example  of 
France. 

3.  The  real  patriotism  of  our  people  was  marvelous  in- 
deed. The  determination  was  to  conquer  or  die.  The 
wisdom  developed  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 
the  choice  of  Washington,  the  right  man  to  lead  our  army, 
whose  patriotism,  courage,  prudence,  patience,  fortitude, 
and  perseverance  were  equally  balanced,  and  the  fact  that 
in  all  that  bloody  struggle  we  had  but  one  Arnold,  and 
that  he  was  detected  before  causing  much  damage,  all 
these  were  providential. 

4.  The  large  extent  of  territory  we  gained,  eight  hundred 
thousand  square  miles,  more  than  six  times  as  large  as 
the  home  possessions  of  Great  Britain.  This  now  contains 
tv»enty-five  States   and  a  population  of  nearly  thirty  millions. 

Thirdly — The    formation  of  the  Fedoral  Consdtution. 

I.  Our  men  of  influence  discovered,  before  anarchy  had 
orn  us  all  to  pieces,  that  the  old  articles  of  confederation 
between  the  States,  though  sufficient  while  they  were  bound 
together  by  the  pressure  of  war,  were  insufficient  in  the 
time  of  peace.  They  could  not  secure  a  revenue,  nor  sup- 
press rebellion,  nor  carry  on  a  firm  government.  Danger 
of  anarchy  beset  us  all  around.  ....... 


198  Ji'LDER  ZELOTES  URENELL. 

2.  Our  wide  extent  of  territory ;  the  variety  of  climate, 
soil  and  productions ;  the  various  nations,  religious  opinions, 
habits,  governments,  and  modes  of  thinking,  represented  in 
the  population,  rendered  it  all  but  impossible  to  form  a 
constitution  which  would  secure  the  popular  vote.  In  the 
midst  of  debate,  when  opinions  were  various,  passions  be_ 
came  heated,  no  progress  was  being  made,  and  all  seemed 
to  be  at  a  stand-still,  Benjamin  Franklin  arose  and  pro- 
posed that  a  clergyman  be  invited  to  come  and  offer  prayer. 
They  agreed.  He  came,  all  knelt  while  prayer  was  offered. 
Then  the  waters  ran  smoothly.  The  progress  was  rapid. 
The  instrument  was  completed,  and  received  the  signatures 
of  all. 

3.  The  Constitution  was  a  monument  of  human  wisdom.. 
It  did  not  constitute  the  nation  a  ConsoHdated  Republic, 
and  thus  annihilate  State  Governments,  but  a  Federal  Re- 
public, leaving  every  State  with  sovereign  authority,  and 
perfectly  independent  in  all  local  State  matters,  to  regulate 
as  they  chose.  And  yet  they  organized  a  firm  national 
government  over  the  whole  population,  and  every  individ- 
ual dwelling  among  us.  They  wisely  separated  the  legisla- 
tive, executive,  and  judical  departments  of  the  government, 
making  them  independent  of  each  other. 

4.  The  existence  of  slavery,  which  was  the  greatest  bar 
to  the  national  union,  was  made  not  a  national,  but  a 
State  institution,  each  State  for  itself  could  establish,  abolish, 
or  modify  it,  in  any  way  it  chose.  This  enactment  de- 
prived it  of  concentrated  power,  which  greatly  weakened  its  in- 
fluence. At  the  same  time.  Congress  by  law  abolished  it 
forever  in  our  Northwestern  Territory,  which  was  all  the 
public  domain  we  owned,  and  which  includes  the  States  of 
Ohio,  IMichigan,  Indiana,  Illinois,  and  part  of  Minnesot'. 
These   enactments    were  the   first   blow   to    the   progress   of 


Thanksgiving  at  Millington.  199 

slavery,   which  terminated  in  its  annihilation  in   1863. 

5.  But  the  crowning  glory  of  the  Constitution,  was  its 
ecuring  universal  religious  liberty  in  opinion  and  mode  of 
worship.  None  but  the  Quakers  and  Baptists  believed  in 
full  religious  liberty.  Neither  the  Congregationalists,  Episco- 
palians, nor  Presbyterians  were  numerous  enough  to  gain 
the  ascendancy.  Hence,  as  a  matter  of  necessity,  all  were 
made  equal  before  the  law.  Rhode  Island  had  set  the 
example  in  her  charter,  and  thus  we  obtained  what  all 
Baptists  in  all  places  have  ever  desired — perfect  religious 
liberty.     Sjurely  this  has  been  a  blessing   to  the  world. 

Fourthly — Our  progress  under  the  Constitution. 

1.  There  have  been  three  prominent  struggles  for  the 
ascendancy  between  Democracy  and  Aristocracy:  In  1801, 
when  Jefferson  became  President,  in  1829,  when  Jackson 
came  into  office,  and  in  1861,  when  Lincoln  was  elected 
President.  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  in  each  contest  the 
party  most  democratic,  which  contended  for  the  widest 
personal  liberty,  and  the  highest  privileges  for  the  masses, 
gained  the  victory.     And  so  may  it  be  in  all  coming  time. 

2.  We  have  passed  through  several  wars,  some  more  and 
some  less  general. 

a.  With  Great  Britain  from  181 2  to  181 5,  in  which  we 
lost  much  property,   and  many  men,   and  gained  nothing. 

b.  In  1835  and  1836,  the  Texas  Revolution,  which  our 
rulers  aided  clandestinely. 

c.  With  the  Florida  Indians,  from  1840  to  1845.  ^^'e 
compelled  them  to  emigrate  to  the  Indian  country. 

d.  With  Mexico,  from  1845  to  1848.  By  conquest  and  pur- 
chase,  we  obtained  California. 

e.  With  the  Southern  States,  from  1861  to  1865,  ^vhich 
seceded  and  formed  a  separate  government.  This  far  exceed- 
ed all   our  other   wars,   and   terminated  in  the   conquest  of 


200  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

the  Seceders,  their  subjugation  and  restoration  to  tae  union, 
their  reconstruction,  and  slavery  aboHshed. 

3.  Increase  of  territory.  At  the  close  of  the  War  for 
Independence,  we  had  eight  hundred  thousand  square  miles. 
In  1803  we  purchased  Louisiana  of  France  for  $15,000,000. 
Louisiana  was  then  a  territory  of  more  than  eight  hundred 
thousand  square  miles.  In  1820  we  purchased  of  Spain, 
Florida,  for  $5,000,000,  a  territory  of  aboutsixty  thousand 
square  miles.  In  1837  we  obtained  Texas  by  annexation, 
which  contained  probably  four  hundred  thousand  square 
miles.  In  1840  we  obtained  California  of  Mexico,  by 
war  and  purchase  money,  $15,000,000,  probably  nearlv 
one  hundred  thousand  square  miles.  In  1867  we  purchased 
Alaska,  of  Russia,  for  $7,000,000,  a  territory  of  nearly  five 
hundred  thousand  square  miles.  Nov*^  our  whole  domain  is 
nearly  three  millions  five  hundred  thousand  square  m.iles. 
Surprising  growth  indeed. 

4.  Increase  of  population.  In  1790  we  had  four  millions. 
Since  then  we  have  doubled  every  twenty-five  years ;  making 
in  1815,  eight  millions,  in  1840,  sixteen  millions,  in  1865, 
thirty  millions,  and  now  about  forty  millions.  What  nation 
has  ever  gained  so  regularly  and  so  rapidly.?  At  this  rate 
of  increase  in  1890  we  shall  have  sixty-four  millions,  and 
in  1 91 5,  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  millions.  Many  now 
living  will  see  that  day. 

5;  Our  pecuniary  resources  have  increased  far  more 
rapidly  than  our  population  and  extension  of  territory. 
Our  magnificent  cities,  which  spring  up  as  if  by  magic,  our 
splendid  churches,  and  other  public  buildings,  our  bank 
capital,  and  our  canals  and  railroads  evince  this.  From 
1850  to  i860  our  property,  real  and  personal,  increased 
126  per  cent.  This  is  astonishing.  Though  our  national 
debt  is   enormous,    it   is   doubtful   whether   it   is   larger   in 


Thanksoiving  at  Millington  201 

proportion  to   our  population    and    means,    than   it   was    at 
the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War. 

REMARKS. 

The  abundance  of  the  Divine  favors  conferred  on  our 
nation    is  clearly  seen  in  two  particulars. 

1.  It  is  a  fact,  notorious  and  indisputable,  that  in 
general  intelligence,  the  means  of  living  and  the  accumula- 
tion of  wealth,  we  stand  mountain  high  above  all  ancient 
and  modern  nations.  Our  free  schools,  select  schools, 
academies  and  colleges,  all  conduce  to  this  result.  Our 
newspapers,  so  widely  spread  and  perused,  our  books  so 
numerous  and  cheap,  our  Sabbath  school  literature  and 
churches  aid  in  the  diffusion  of  intelligence.  The  extent 
of  our  public  domain,  the  fruitfulness  of  the  soil,  variety 
of  productions,  our  minerals,  metals,  coals,  and  ores,  with 
water  and  steam-power  in  abundance,  and  our  free  in- 
stitutions all  conduce  to  every  form  of  labor  and  skill,  and 
open  wide  the  door  to  competence  and  wealth,  and  ren- 
der us  a  marvel  to  other  nations. 

2.  Our  religious  condition.  In  no  other  land  are 
there  as  many  evangelical  churches,  houses  of  worship,  and 
evangelical  preachers,  according  to  the  population,  as  in 
our  own.  In  illustration  of  this,  we  present  the  following 
estimates: 

The  Baptist  family,  including  all  branches  holding  their 
})eculiar  views,  has  two  million  communicants,  and  eight 
millions  population.  The  Methodists,  including  all  classes 
of  them,  have  not  less  than  two  million  communicants  and 
eight  millions  population.  The  Presbyterian  family,  includ- 
hig  all  who  hold  their  form  of  church  government,  has 
one  million  members  and  four  million  people.  Then  the 
Ki)iscr)pal,  Congregationalists,  and  Lutherans  will  average 
v»iK-third  of  a  million  each,   making    one  million    members 


202  Elder  Zelotes  Grenel^'^ 

and  four  millions  population.  These  denominations  have 
six  million  communicants  and  twenty-four  millions  popula- 
tion.    What  other  nation   can  show  as  fair  a  record? 

CONCLUSION. 

The  history  of  ouf  nation  is  before  us,  and  calls  for 
giatitude  and  trust.  Two  problems  have  been  solved: 
First,  the  strength  of  Democracy.  Second,  Religion  flour- 
ishes best  when  left  free.  Two  great  and  all  important 
duties,   are  then  demanded  of  us : 

1.  The  evangelization  of  all  classes  of  our  population, 
give  thorough  intellectual  and  religious  instruction  to  all, 
regardless  of  color  or  social  position.  Meet  all  immigrants 
with  an  open  Bible,  and  living  religion.  The  permanency 
of  our  institutions  depend  upon  this.  This  is  Home 
Missions. 

2.  To  evangelize  the  world  as  fast  as  the  door 
shall  be  open.  This  is  Foreign  Missions,  commenced  and 
progressing.  The  inspired  saying  ''There  is  that  scattereth 
and  yet  increaseth,  and  that  withholdeth  more  than  is 
meet  and  it  tendeth  to  poverty,"  (Proverb  11:24)  is  as 
apphcable  to  nations    as  to  individuals. 

3.  In  view  of  our  entire  history,  and  especially  the 
numerous  mercies  of  the  past  year,  including  national  peace, 
a  healthful  and  fruitful  season,  our  national  debt  diminish- 
ed $100,000,000,  commerce,  manufacturers,  and  agriculture 
thriving,  let  us  raise  our  Eben-ezer,  ''Hitherto  the 
Lord  hath  helped  us."  To  Him  be  all  the  glory,  both 
now  and  forever.     Amen. 


JUBILEE  OF  THE  CLINTON   BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

Clinton,  Wayne  County,  Pennsylvania,   Nov.    io,  i88i. 
Dear  Brethren: 

I  am  happy  to  address  you  on  this  interesting  occasion. 
You  will  find  my  text  in  Exodus  14-^5^  Psalms  20:5, 
Philippians  3:16.  "Speak  unto  the  Children  of  Israel  that 
they  go  forward."  "We  will  rejoice  in  thy  salvation  and 
in  the  name  of  our  God  we  will  set  up  our  banner." 
"Nevertheless,  whereunto  we  have  already  attained,  let  us 
walk   by    the   same   rule,    let   us   mind   the   same   things." 

These  three  passages  of  the  inspired  volume  are  the 
foundation  of  my  remarks  at  your  Jubilee  Meeting.  I 
shall  use  them  as  themes  of  instruction,  in  the  order  in 
which  they  lie   before  us. 

First — Exodus  14.15.  The  command  **go  forward" 
was  given  by  God  through  Moses  to  "the  Children  of  Israel" 
when  in  a  condition  of  peril  and  beset  with  great  danger. 
The  hosts  of  Egypt,  bent  on  their  destruction,  were  behind 
them,  an  idol  temple  on  one  side,  a  garrison  of  the  enemy 
on  the  other,  and  the  waves  of  the  sea  before  them.  Thus 
shut  in  they  cried  to  Moses  and  he  to  the  Lord.  God 
said : ' '  Stand  still. "  Cease  your  murmuring,  trust  in  me.  Then 
sounded  out  the  words,  "go  forward."  They  obeyed,  and 
grand  was  the  result. 

From  this  we  learn:  The  church  in  every  condition,  pros- 
perous or  adverse,  should  go  forward.  In  either  case  there 
is  need  of  this  command;  for  in    prosperity    we  are  not  to 


204  _    Eldeb  Zelotes  Grenell. 

be  satisfied  with  present  attainments,  since  Joshua  cautioned 
Israel:  ''There  is  much  land  yet  to  be  possessed."  And 
under  adverse  circumstances  we  are  prone  to  despair,  feel 
that  all  is  lost  and  give  up'  the  warfare. 

That  the  church  and  the  individual  Christian  should  go 
forward  the  following  facts  show. 

1.  Progress  is  the  universal  law  of  nature.  This  is  seen 
in  the  heavenly  bodies.  Sun,  moon,  and  stars  all  move 
forward.  Also  in  all  vegetable  life,  from  the  smallest  weed 
to  the  mighty  oak.  Also  in  all  animal  life,  from  the  insect 
of  a  day  to  the  soaring  eagle,  the  lion,  and  sea  monster. 
Such  is  human  life  in  all  its  stages  from  infancy  to  gray 
hairs.  Should  the  church  be  exempted  from  God's  uni- 
versal law.?  surely    not. 

2.  God  has  commanded  it.  "Grow  in  grace,"  is  a  law 
^vhich  binds  the  church  and  every  individual  member. 
Paul  felt  its  force  and  determined  to  obey  its  precepts. 
Philippians  3:  12-14.  "Not  as  though  I  had  already  attained. 
But  I  follow  after.  I  press  toward  the  mark  for  the  prize 
of  the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus."  This  was  the 
constant  purpose  of  Christ.  "I  must  work  the  works  of 
Him  that  sent  me,"  said  he,  "while  it  is  day,  the  night 
cometh  in  which  no  man  can  work." 

3.  If  the  church  does  not  go  forward  it  will  lose  ground. 
Like  the  boat  rowed  up  stream,  against  the  current,  it  falls 
back  when  rowing  ceases.  Religious  duties  are  crosses 
that    must  be  borne    or    we  decline  and  grow  weaker. 

4.  We  have  full  assurance  our  cause  is  right  and  true. 
The  cause  is  God's.  This  should  stimulate  to  action.  Con- 
science, our  moral  sense,  the  Bible,  the  whole  work  of 
Christ,  history,  truth,  safety,  happiness,  honor,  usefulness 
are  all  on  the  same  side  and  urge   us  onward. 

5.  We  can    have    no    doubt   of  the    qualification    of  our 


JuBiLKE  AT  Clinton.  205 

Txadcr,  the  Lord  of  Hosts.  His  goodness,  love,  pov;er, 
wisdom  ar.d  resources  are  infinite.  He  never  lost  a  battle. 
His  trumpet  never  sounds  a  retreat,  but  onward  ^lvkX  vlclury. 
Apparent  defeats  are  final  victories.  ''Gad,  a  troop,  shall 
overcome  him,  but  he  shall  overcome  at  last"  (Genesis  49: 
19).      As  Erskine   says; 

"All  our  battles,  lost  or  won, 
Were  gained before^liey  were  begun."* 

Finally,  though  surrounded  by  enemies  and  beset  by 
discouragements,  all  parts  are  encouraging.  Every  soldier 
is  a  volunteer.      He   has  the   good   of  the  cause   at   heart. 

His  Equipage  is  the  whole  armor  of  God.  His  cap- 
tain is  glorious,  his  service  a  pleasure,  his  conquest  sure, 
his  crown  eternal  and  unfading  glory  in  the  kingdom  of 
our  Father,  where  the  rage  of  earth  and  hell  shall  be  heard 
no  more.  Then,  brethren  and  sisters,  by  all  means  go 
forward. 

Secondly — We  now  come  to  our  second  text,  Psalms  20:5, 
"We  will  rejoice  in  thy  Salvation  and  in  the  name  of  our 
God  we  will  set  up  our  banner." 

Our  first  text  developed  duties  which  belong  to  all 
times,  places  and  circumstances.  This  shows  our  present 
special  duties  in  view  of  present  circumstances  of  goodness 
with  which  we  are  surrounded.  "We  will,"  said  Israel 
"rejoice  in  thy  salvation,"  a  deliverance  granted  to  them 
from  the  power  of  their  foes.  Such  is  our  special  duty 
now,  in  view  of  the  Divine  goodness  manifested  in  the 
commencement  and  progress  of  this  settlement  and  espec- 
ially in  the  circumstances  connected  with  the  organization 
of  this  church  and  the  fifty  years  of  its  history.  There  is 
no  room  for  self-glorying  here.  God's  providence  and 
grace  have  managed  all  your  affairs.  Our  short-comings 
have    been    many,    for    which    we   need    humility   and    deep 


206  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

repentance.  Our  success  is  of  the  Lord,  for  which  joyful 
praise  is  demanded.  This  will  lead  us,  on  this  jubilee  of 
rejoicing,  in  the  name  of  God  to  set  up  our  banner. 

Let  us  consider  the  iiaiure  and  use  of  the  banner,  the 
reasons  for  its  erection  and  how  we  should  do  it. 

1.  The  banner  is  an  implement  of  war,  valued  by  ail 
nations.  Its  uses  are  various.  It  is  a  band  of  union  to 
the  soldiers  of  the  cross.  It  designates  the  nation  to  which 
the  ship,  the  fortress,  or  the  army  belongs.  It  is  the  means 
of  confidence  and  courage.  It  makes  an  army  terrible  to 
the  enemy,  "terrible  as  an  army  with  banners,"  Canticle  6: 
4-10.  The  banner  is  a  protection.  The  authorities  of 
Cuba  dare  not  execute  a  British  subject  when  the  consul 
throws  the  flag  of  his  nation  around  him.  Here  are  pleas- 
ure and  safety.  "He  brought  me  to  the  banqueting  house 
and  his  banner  over  me  was  love." 

2.  Why  should  you  erect  a  banner,?  In  consideration 
of  many  mercies.  Now  is  your  jubilee  and  a  crisis  in  your 
history.  Here  a  new  era  in  your  history  commences.  You 
survey  the  past  and  hope  for  the  future. 

In  my  first  visit  here  sixty-eight  years  ago  and  eighteen 
years  before  you  became  a  church,  I  saw  the  nucleus  of 
a  church  in  the  Nortons,  Grenells,  Griswolds,  and  other 
men  of  culture  and  piety  baptized  in  Connecticut.  You 
wanted  the  Gospel,  and  God  gave  it  to  you  in  men  good 
and  true.  God  blessed  their  toils,  souls  were  converted 
and  baptized.  In  eighteen  years,  you  covenanted  together 
twenty-six  in  number.  Seldom  has  a  church  been  organ- 
ized in  so  sparse  a  settlement  which  had  as  many  elements 
of  strength  and  promises  of  perpetuity  as  you  then    had. 

3.  Since  your  organization,  the  first  twenty-six  years  ol 
your  history,  as  recorded  in  the  history  of  the  association, 
developed    much    of  Divine    goodness.      You    were   usually 


JuiiiLEE  AT  Clinton.  201 

supplied,  statedly  supplied  with  pastors,  good  and  true,  and 
God  blessed  the  preaching  of  the  Word.  Brother  Curtis 
was  with  you  in  all  fourteen  years.  Brother  Curren  five 
years.'  Brethren  Spencer,  Purdun,  Fox,  and  Hubbard  also 
labored  acceptably  among  you.  In  1844,  fifteen  were  baptiz- 
ed and  your  membership  was  eighty-six.  In  1855,  forty-one 
were  baptized,  your  number  one  hundred  and  thirty-six.  Dur- 
ing these  years  the  church  had  three  revivals  and  became  a 
strong  body.  In  1846  the  Lord  gave  you  the  means  and 
the  disposition  to  erect  a  house  of  worship,  but  in  185 1 
he  tore  it  to  pieces  with  a  tempest  of  wind,  and  this  to 
try  your  faith,  and  in  1855  you  completed  another  and 
better  one.  I  had  the  honor  of  preaching  its  dedicatory 
sermon. 

During  these  last  twenty-four  years  you  have  sung  of 
mercies  and  judgments,  judgments  few  and  mercies  many. 
Brother  Halsted  was  your  main  supply  in  1857,  and  in  1862 
L.  O.  Grenell  baptized  four  at-  one  time.  Alexander  Smith 
preached  one  year,  baptized  two.  Brother  Bennett  preach- 
ed in  1 86 1  and  baptized  thirty-two.  Brother  Curtis  supplied 
you  when  destitute.  Brother  Bunting  preached  from  1862  to 
1868  and  baptized  twenty-eight.  He  died  on  the  field. 
Brother  More  labored  from  1870  to  1871  and  baptized  six. 
Your  present  pastor  has  been  with  you  some  eleven  years 
and  baptized  sixty.  Surely  these  are  mercies  great  and  glor- 
ious. But  some  have  died,  some  moved  away,  a  few  have 
turned  their  backs  on  the  cause.  Two  hundred  and  ninety 
three  have  been  baptized  into  your  fellowship,  four  hundred 
and  six  have  had  their  names  on  your  roll  and  your  present 
membership  is  one  hundred  and  fifty.  This  is  a  good  showing 
considering  your  location,  where  many  move  away  and  few 
come  among  you.  Surely  these  mercies  demand  a  banner 
of  gratitude  and  praise. 


208  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

3.  To  erect  this  banner  implies  that  you  reahze  clearly 
the  abundance  of  God's  mercies  to  you  and  have  a  clear 
sense  of  the  personal  obligation  this  goodness  imposes. 
This  will  inspire  enlarged  devotion  and  increased  consecra- 
tion. Having  these,  you  will  take  a  more  prominent  and 
public  stand  in  favor  of  the  cause  of  God,  and  you  will 
have  enlarged  desires  to  promote  its  progress  in  your  com- 
munity and  throughout  the  world.  Then  you  will  take  an 
expansive  view  of  the  wide  field  of  christian  enterprise  God 
has  spread  out  before  you,  and  enter  into  all  God's  pur- 
poses to  save  the  world. 

We  have  endeavored  to  show  the  various  uses  of  the 
banner  as  a  bond  of  union,  as  an  inspircr  of  courage,  as 
a  protection  and  place  of  safety.  With  this  banner  float- 
ing over  your  heads,  when  tempted  to  delay  you  will  say 
with  one  of  old  :  "I  have  sworn  to  the  Lord  and  cannot 
go  back."  and  with  the  poef.. 

"Here  in  thy  house  I  leave  my  vows 

And  thy  rich  grace  record; 
Witness,   ye  saints,  who  hear  me  novv^, 
If  I  forsake  the    Lord." 
Then  will  you  attempt  great  things  for  Christ  and  expect 
great  things  from  him  and  not  be  disappointed.     Then  }'ou 
will  bring  all  your  offerings  into  the  Lord's  store  house  and 
prove  him  if  he  will  not  pour  you    out  a   blessing   indeed. 
Then  will  this    day   be    a   jubilee    indeed    and    God    will 
say,    "From  this  day  I  will  bless    them."     Then    may   you 
here  see  developed  the  agonies  of  dying  unto    sin,  followed 
by  the  joy  of  souls  born  into  the  kingdom.      May  the  Lord 
grant  it  now. 

Thirdly.  Let  us  consider  the  other  text  named:  "Never- 
theless, whereunto  we  have  already  attained,  let  us  walk  by 
the  same  rule,   let  us  mind  the  same  things." 


Jubilee  at  Clinton.  209 

Tliis  church  seems  anxious  to  secure  further  prosperity 
and  know  the  means  to  attain  it.  Paul  directs  them  to 
consuh  their  experience  as  a  rule  of  attaining  success.  Such 
I  take  for  granted  is  now  your  anxious  desire.  As  exper- 
ience was  the  guide  of  the  Phihppian  Church  why  should 
it  not  be  yours.?  And  you  have  an  advantage  in  this  re- 
spect; their  experience  was  but  short  while  yours  embraces 
half  a  century.  Allow  me  to  remind  you  of  a  few  things 
taught  in  these  fifty  years  of  experience. 

I.  That  neither  wealth,  nor  talents,  nor  both  combined  are 
the  sovereign  means  of  the  prosperity  of  a  church  how- 
ever useful  in  themselves,  but  true,  ardent,  intelligent  piety 
is  the  all-essential  means  of  permanent  prosperity.  Piety 
commences  in  the  family,  secures  the  support,  education, 
control,  and  instruction  of  children.  Such  a  family  is  a 
Bible-reading,  praying  church  and  Sunday  School-going 
family.  The  Sabbath  is  observed  as  a  holy  day  and  the 
Bible  is  prized  as  the  book  of  books.  Such  a  family  is 
the  glory  of  the  State,  the  nursery  of  the  church  and  its 
greatest  blessing.      God   dwells  there. 

Such  a  church  will  have  a  pastor  of  like  spirit.  They 
will  sustain  him  pecuniarily  according  to  their  ability  and 
his  needs.  They  will  watch  over  him  in  love,  sympathize 
with  him  in  his  sorrows,  protect  him  if  aspersed,  aid  him 
in  his  eflbrts  to  build  up  the  church  and  spread  the  Gos- 
pel far  abroad.  They  will  heed  the  caution,  "Touch  not 
mine  anointed,  and   do  my  prophet  no  harm." 

Humility  is  an  element  of  piety  and  of  church  growth. 

** Which  should  be  greatest"  disturbed  the  immediate 
family  of  Christ.  This  spirit  has  retarded  the  growth  of 
many  churches  and  annihilated  not  a  few.  Which  shall 
be  least,  brings  no  trouble.  Pride  brings  jealousy,  hatred 
strife,    and  the  Holy   Spirit   takes   his   flight.     The  humble 


210  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

church  most  resembles  Christ  and  secures  the  blessing  which 
makes  rich  and  adds  no  sorrow  to  the  soul. 

But  among  all  the  elements  of  piety  and  church  growth 
befievolence  is  the  most  essential  and  deservedly  wears  the 
crown.  As  this  is  the  highest  type  of  piety,  and  the  great- 
est cross  imposed  on  us,  the  Bible  has  taken  unusual  pains 
to  show  evils  of  covetousness  and  the  value  of  benevo- 
lence,   that  we  may  forsake  that  and  follow  this. 

1.  The  Bible  for  our  warning  describes  the  character 
and  doom  of  such,  of  Balaam  who  served  for  the  wages 
of  unrighteousness  and  died  fighting  against  God — Israel 
and  Israel's  God ;  of  Judas  who  sold  his  Lord  for  thirty 
pieces  of  silver,  the  price  of  a  slave,  in  remorse  hung  him- 
self over  the  verge  of  a  precipice  and  falling  asunder  all 
his  bowels  gushed  out ;  of  Ajtam'as  and  his  wife  Sapphira, 
who  lied  to  the  Holy  Spirit  and  died  on  the  spot;  of 
Simon  Magus,  who  wished  to  purchase  the  gift  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  with  money;  of  the  Ri'c/i  Fool,  whose  soul  God 
demanded  that  night.  Such  are  our  warnings.  Happy 
they  who  hear  and  duly  heed  them. 

2.  God  has  commended  benevolence  by  the  examples 
and  influence  of  such  as  Noah,  who  built  the  ark,  saved 
his  house,  and  condemned  the  world.  Israel  under  Moses 
built  the  Tabernacle  in  the  wilderness  which  cost  millions 
and  after,  in  the  time  of  Solomon,  the  Temple  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  hundreds  of  millions.  The  Gospel  was  spread 
in  the  Apostolic  age  by  the  self-sacrificing  labors  and  gifts 
of  the  church.  For  an  account  of  the  labors  of  Prophets 
and  Apostles  read  the  eleventh  chapter  of  Hebrews,  their 
heroic  benevolence. 

3.  God  has  commended  benevolence  by  developing  its 
character  and  promises  attached  to  it.  Such  "lend  to  the 
Lord"  and   *'He  will  repay"  them.     To  such  as  give,  men 


Jubilee  at  Clinton.  211 

will  give  in  return,  good  measure,  pressed  down  and  run- 
ning over.  Benevolence  supplies  the  wants  of  the  saints 
and  produces  abundant  thanksgiving  to  God.  The  benev- 
olence of  the  Philippians  was  an  odor  of  sweet  smell,  a 
sacrifice  well-pleasing  to  God.  Benevolence  is  a  sacrifice 
well  pleasing  to  God. 

4.  The  unmistakable  signs  of  the  age  demand  of  the 
church  enlarged  benevolence.  God  is  waking  up  the  na- 
tions and  opening  vast  fields  for  the  spread  of  the   gospel. 

The  hundreds  of  millions  of  China  and  millions  of 
Japan  are  calling  for  the  Word  of  Life.  All  Africa  is  now 
open  to  the  heralds  of  the  cross.  The  Telugus  are  coming 
to  Christ  by  thousands.  Our  own  land  opens  a  wide  field 
for  evangelistic  work.  **The  field  is  the  world,"  and  we 
are  commanded  to  enter  it  as  laborers  of  the  Cross.  As  a 
denomination  we  have  entered  into  the  work,  and  God  has 
blessed  us  abundantly  in  it  Our  benevolence  should  be 
greatly   enlarged. 

5.  A  man  in  health  need  not  ask  his  physician  how 
much  he  should  eat.  His  appetite  will  inform  him.  Even 
so,  if  our  souls  were  healthy  and  benevolence  were  our 
food,  our  appetites  would  direct  us  in  this  matter.  Then 
would  benevolence  abundantly  increase,  and  the  Lord's 
treasury  would  be  abundantly  supplied. 

Brethren,  Sisters,  look  on  your  broad  acres  of  teeming 
soil,  your  flocks  and  herds,  your  cellars  and  pantries,  your 
houses,  equipages  and  wardrobes,  listen  to  the  wail  of 
the  dying  pagan  and  then  inquire,  what  have  I  done? 
What  am  I  doing.?  What  ought  I  to  do  in  the  great 
work  of  carrying  out  the  great  commission.?  Then  act  for 
God  and  in  view  of  eternity. 

CONXLUSION. 

Since  you  were  organized  as  a  church  great  changes  have 


212  Elder.  Zelotes  Grenell. 

occurred  in  this  place.  Our  entire  country  has  undergone 
a  great  change  during  that  time.  The  same  may  be  said 
of  the  entire  world.  Especially  is  this  true  of  our  beloved 
denomination.  There  are  five  times  as  many  Baptists  in 
the  United  States  of  America  as  when  you  were  organized, 
and  six  times  as  many  as  sixty-three  years  ago.  Benev- 
olent toil  has  been  abundantly  blessed.  The  Old  School 
Baptists  in  twenty  years  have  diminished  from  one  hundred 
to  forty  thousand,  a  solemn  warning  against  inaction  in 
the  cause  of  God. 

Few  are  living  who  were  with  you  fifty  years  ago.  Only 
a  few  of  those  now  with  you  will  be  living  fifty  years 
hence.  Time  is  short.  Improve  it  while  it  is  given  to  you. 
Soon  the  night  of  death  cometh  in  which  no  one  shall 
work. 

Finally,  sixty-three  years  ago  I  first  saw  this  place  and 
its  inhabitants.  I  loved  them  then,  and  have  loved  them 
more  and  more  ever  since.  God  only  knows  how  much 
I  loved  Deacon  Grenell  and  his  family  and  others.  I  have 
been  enabled  to  visit  you  occasionally  through  all  these 
long  years.  I  have  preached  in  your  dwellings,  school- 
houses,  barns  and  churches,  at  your  funerals  and  associa- 
tions and  now  at  your  jubilee.  My  acquaintance  com- 
menced in  the  dew  of  my  youth  and  boyhood  of  my  min- 
istry, and  has  continued  till  old  age  has  come.  My  sight 
and  hearing  have  failed,  memory  has  become  treacherous, 
my  right  hand  is  forgetting  its  cunning,  and  I  tremble  on 
the  brink  of*  the  grave.  I  love  you  dearly,  am  anxious  for 
your  prosperity,  therefore  I  have  used  on  this  occasion  great 
plainness  of  speech.  I  feel  you  will  hear  my  voice  no 
more.    This  is  my  farewell  sermon.  Finally,  brethren,  farewell. 


THE  BLIND  AND  DEAF  SERVANT. 

"Who  is  blind^ but  myjscrvant ?  or  deaf  as  my  messen- 
ger that  I  scnt.P^who  is  bHnd  as  he  that  is  perfect,  and 
bhnd  as  the  Lord's  servant?/'  {Isaiah  42  :  ig.  ) 

Isaiah  has  with  propriety  been  denominated  the  Evan- 
gehcal  prophet.  Though  he  prophesied  more  than  seven 
hundred  years  before  tha  coming  of  Christ,  his  views  of  his 
character  and  work,  his  rejection,  sufferings  and  death,  and 
the  wonderful  result  in  the  progress  of  his  Kingdom,  are 
so  clear  and  full  that  he  seems  to  have  been  living  among  these 
wonderful  scenes  and  appropriately  writes  in  the  past  tense. 
This  whole  chapter  is  a  description  of  his  character  and 
work- 
Some  have  suggested  that  this  text  discloses  the  obstinacy  of 
the  Jews,  especially  the  rulers  of  the  nation,  in  rejecting 
Christ.  It  is  true  they  were  wilfully  and  wickedly  blind. 
But  the  term  servant  in  the  passage  is  in  the  singular  and 
cannot  apply  to  a  class.  Would  the  Lord  term  them  his 
servant  ironically  or  sarcastically.?  Moreover  the  description 
in  the  text  and  its  connection  is  true  of  Christ  and  some 
expressions  can  apply  to  no  one  else.  He  was  a  servanj 
and  the  Lord's  servant,  a  messenger  and  the  Lord's  messen- 
ger. He  was  perfect,  absolutely  so.  He  only  of  all  Adam's 
race  magnified  the  law  and  made  it  honorable.  It  is  only 
in  his  righteousness  the  Lord  is  well  pleased.  It  is  only 
he  that  can  open  the  ear.     Hence,    my   text  asserts   Christ 


2i4  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

was  both  deaf  and  dumb,  and  more  so  than  any  other  one. 
"Who  is  bHnd  but  my  servant,  or  deaf  as  my  messenger ?" 
Hence,  inspired  prophecy  pronounced  our  Lord  both  bhnd 
and  deaf     Of  course  this  must  be  true. 

But  the  question  is,  in  what  sense  is  he  so  ?  There  are 
two  kinds  of  bhndness  and  deafness,  viz:  physical  and  moral. 
One,  so  born  and  cannot  see  nor  hear  though  very  desirous; 
and  the  other,  having  the  power  but  not  the  disposition. 
He  hates  the  light,  closes  his  eyes  and  ears  and  is  as  blind 
and  deaf  as  the  other,  but  under  different  circumstances. 
With  one  it  is  voluntary,  with  the  other  involuntary.  In 
one  case  it  is  neither  a  virtue  nor  a  vice,  but  a  great  mis- 
fortune, with  the  other  it  may  be  either  according  to  cir- 
cumstances. When  Joseph  was  blind  and  deaf  to  the 
temptation  of  his  mistress,  it  was  a  virtue.  When  the 
believer  is  blind  and  deaf  to  the  charms  of  vice,  it  is  a 
virtue.  When  the  sinner  is  so  blind  he  can  see  no  charms 
in  Christ,  and  so  deaf  he  can  hear  no  music  in  the  Gos- 
pel, it  is  a  vice.  Such  are  described  in  Psalms  58  :  4,  5. 
**Like  the  deaf  adder  that  stoppeth  her  ear,  which  will  not 
hearken  to  the  voice  of  charmers  charming  never  so 
wisely. " 

Christ  was  neither  blind  nor  deaf  physically.  He  was  a  man 
perfect  physically  and  morally,  every  physical  faculty  was 
perfectly  developed;  but  he  was  morally  blind  and  deaf  to 
all  that  was  evil.  He  lived  thirty-three  years  surrounded 
by  temptation  and  remained  undenled.  The  Prince  of  this 
world  found  nothing  in  Him. 

The  following  points  developed  in  his  life  will  illustrate 
the  subject: 

I.  Christ  was  totally  blind  and  deaf  to  the  temptations  of 
Satan. 

His   contest   with   this    potent   adversary   is    described    in 


Blind  and  Deaf  Servant.  215 

Matthew  4:  i-n.  When  he  had  fasted  forty  days  and  was 
sorely  pinched  with  hunger,  Satan  tempted  him  to  prove  his 
Messiahship  by  converting  stones  into  bread.  Christ  had 
an  appropriate  answer,  "Man  shall  not  live  by  bread  alone." 
Deut.  S:j.  Then  on  the  pinnacle  of  the  Temple  Satan 
tempted  him  to  cast  himself  down,  as  no  evil  could  in 
that  case  befall  him,  and  quoted  as  proof  Psalm  21: 11-12. 
Christ  had  an  answer  ready,  *'Thou  shalt  not  tempt  the 
Lord  thy  God,"  Deut.  6:  6.  Then  on  a  high  mountain 
he  showed  him  all  the  Kingdoms  of  the  earth,  claimed  the 
ownership  of  all  and  promised  them  all  to  him  if  he  would 
fall  down  and  worship  him.  Truly  he  possessed  all  these 
as  a  usurper  though  he  could  not  dispose  of  any.  Christ 
had  as  an  answer,  Deut.  6:  ij.  "Thou  shalt  worship  the 
Lord  thy  God  and  Him  only  shalt  thou  serve."  In  every 
conflict,  he  defeated  Satan  by  the  word  which  is  the  sword 
of  the  Spirit. 

Satan  also  tempted  him  by  stirring  up  the  Scribes  and 
Pharisees  to  harass  him  and  extort  answers  by  which  they 
might  accuse  him  of  treason  to  Caesar  or  of  violating  the 
law  of  Moses.  See  on  paying  tribute  to  Caesar  (I\Iatt.  22:  17- 
22).  Also  the  woman  taken  in  adultery.  (John  8:  3-10). 
Also  on  the  resurrection.  (Matt.  22:  23-33).  ^^^^  ^^  the 
subject  of  divorce.  (Mark  10:  1-12).  No  temptation  ever 
turned  him  aside.      He  was  blind  and  deaf  to  them  all. 

2.  He  was  totally  blind  and  deaf  to  all  the  glory  which  arises 
from  civil  office  and  the  possession   0/ wealth. 

Honor  and  wealth  as  a  means  of  sensual  enjoyment  are 
the  great  enticements  of  men.  Where  is  the  man  who  is 
blind  and  deaf  to  these  charms.?  But  such  was  our  Redeem- 
er. Instead  of  ruling  he  served  as  a  menial,  and  even 
washed  the  feet  of  his  diciples.  When  they  came  to 
make  him  a  king  by    force,  he  refused  and  fled  from  them 


216  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

(John  6:15).  Though  he  possessed  the  world,  he  volun- 
tarily subjected  himself  to  a  situation  of  poverty.  He  was 
ministered  to  and  his  daily  wants  supplied  by  pious  and 
benevolent  women  (Luke  8:  2-3).  He  could  say,  **  Foxes 
have  their  holes  and  the  birds  of  the  air  nests,  but  the 
Son  of  Man  hath  not  where  to  lay  his  head  "  (Luke  9:58.). 
He  wrought  many  miracles  to  supply  others  but  never  one 
to  supply  his  own  wants.  So  extremely  poor  was  he,  that 
he  owned  no  house  or  home  and  lived  all  his  life  by  bor- 
rowing J  he  was  wrapped  in  a  borrowed  swaddling-band, 
laid  in  a  borrowed  boat,  rode  on  a  borrowed  animal, 
and  was  buried  in  a  borrowed  tomb.  Such  his  blindness 
and  deafness  to  honor  and  wealth. 

3.  He  was  totally  blind  and  deaf  io  all  the  reproaches 
of  the  ungodly  and  their  combination  to  destroy  him.  None 
of  these  turned  him  aside  from  the  one  subject  which  was 
always  before  him,  to  finish  his  work.  True  he  escaped 
until  his  time  had  come  and  then  met  death  manfully  and  with- 
out flinching.  See  Gethsemane  and  the  Cross. — He  was 
accused  of  being  a  glutton,  a  wine  bibber,  a  friend  of 
Publicans  and  Sinners(iMatt.  11:19).  Also  of  performing 
his  miracles  through  Beel  zebub  the  Prince  of  the  devils 
(Mark  3:  22).  He  was  accused  of  blasphemy  (Matt.  26:65). 
He  was  also  accused  of  treason  against  Caesar  by  pro- 
claiming himself  a  king.  He  was  advised  to  flee  from  the 
country  or  Herod  would  kill  him.  And  he  said,  "Go  and' 
tell  that  fox,  behold  I  cast  out  devils  and  do  cures  to-day 
and  to-morrow,  and  the  third  day  I  shall  be  perfected.' 
His  work  was  ever  before  him  and  no  consideration  of 
flattery  or  frown,  security  or  danger,  friendship  or  emnity, 
pity  or  scorn  could  turn  him  aside.  He  could  say,  ''Father 
I  have  finished  the  work  which  thou  hast  given  me  to  do. ' 

4.  He   ever  was  and  ever  will  be  totally  blind  and  deaf 


Blind  and  Deaf  Servant.  217 

to  all  the  /also,  charges  brought  against  his  children,  cither 
by    the  Devil  or  the  ungodly. 

Saints  in  every  age  have  been  an  accused,  reproached 
and  persecuted  people.  Satan  accused  Job  of  selfish  hypoc- 
ricy,  of  serving  God  for  gain.  He  accused  and  resisted 
Joshua  when  about  to  be  restored  to  the  priesthood,  but  God 
answered,  **Is  not  this  a  brand  plucked  out  of  the  fire"? 
Zech.  3:  2)  The  three  Hebrews  were  accused  of  treason  to 
the  king,  Daniel  was  accused  of  disloyalty  to  his  monarch, 
the  apostles  were  accused  as  disturbers  of  the  peace  and  of 
turning  the  world  upside  down.  Paul  was  accused  of  be- 
ing a  pestilent  fellow,  a  mover  of  sedition.  All  the  apostles 
but  John  were  executed  on  false  charges.  During  the  first 
three  centuries  of  the  christian  era,  thousands  were  accus- 
ed before  Pagan  Magistrates,  tried,  condemnc<l  and  execut- 
ed on  false  charges.  Under  the  dominion  of  Papal  Rome, 
millions  have  been  subjected  to  all  the  indignities  and  tor- 
tures human  malice  could  invent,  viz.,  fines,  prisons,  ban- 
ishment, starvation,  fighting  with  wild  beasts,  drowning  and 
the  fire,  and  all  on  false  charges.  Think  of  Paul,  suffering 
as  recorded  by  himself  ( 2  Cor.  11:24-26).  All  these  false 
accusations  and  persecutions  have  been  conducted  in  the 
name  of  religion.  And  in  this,  Protestants  have  not  been 
innocent.  Lutherans,  Episcopalians,  Presbyterians  and  Con- 
gregationalists  have  imbued  their  hands  in  the  blood  of  the 
saints.  All  national  churches  have  practised  this  iniquity. 
But  our  Redeemer  is  blind  and  deaf  to  all  these  charges. 
He  knows  his  sheep  and  is  known  of  them.  They  are 
clothed  in  his  righteousness.  He  says,  *'Thou  art  all  fair, 
my  love."  Hence,  the  triumphant  language  of  Paul,  "Who 
shall  lay  anything  to  the  charge  of  God's  elect  ?  it  is  God 
that  justifieth:  who  is  he  that  condemncth"?  In  all  their  sor- 
rows, the  persecuted  had  communion  with  Christ,    and  the 


218  Elder  Zelotes  Grenelx.. 

witness  of  his  spirit  was  with  them.  Though  often  chas- 
tized with  a  fatherly  hand,  ultimately  he  will  present  them 
before  his  Father's  throne  without  spot  and  complete  in  their 
Redeemer. 

5.  Christ  is  absolutely  both  blind  and  deaf/o  all  the  for- 
vier  sins  of  the  penitent. 

Such  come  to  him  for  mercy  confessing  sin  and  seeking 
forgiveness.  When  saul  of  Tarsus  imploringly  said,  **Lord 
what  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do"  ?  Christ  did  not  reproach 
him  for  being  a  blasphemer  and  a  persecutor  of  his  chil- 
dren. His  love  and  sympathy  would  not  break  that  bruised 
reed  nor  quench  that  smoking  flax.  He  addressed  him  in 
words  of  tenderness  and  directed  him  in  the  way  of  deliver- 
ance. So  the  three  thousand  stung  with  remorse  of  con- 
science and  dreading  the  doom  awaiting  them,  inquired 
"What  shall  we  do?"  Peter  under  the  influence  of  the 
spirit  uttered  no  reproachful  word,  but  directed  them  to  the 
remedy  that  God  had  provided.  And  when  the  Jailor  in 
amazement  cried,  ''What  shall  I  do  to  b 2  saved"?  he  was  not 
reproached  by  Paul.  He  directed  him  to  Christ  and  bade 
him  trust  in  him  for  salvation.  Such  is  true  of  every  one 
coming  in  sincerity  to  him.  Conscience,  the  law  and  satan 
reproach  such;  but  Christ  welcomes  all  in  love  who  come  in 
penitence  to  him. 

This  is  equally  true  of  the  repenting  backslider.  David 
reproached  himself  most  bitterly  when  brought  to  repentance, 
but  God  had  put  away  his  sin.  So  Peter  reproached  him- 
self, but  from  Christ  received  the  looks  of  love  and  peace 
of  faith.  He  wept  bitterly  over  his  denial,  but  Christ  in 
compassion  had  forgiven  him  and  bade  him  feed  the  sheep. 
The  returning  prodigal  reproached  himself  but  the  father 
welcomed  him  with  joy  and  without  reproach.  So  with 
every  true  penitent  and  with  all  under  the  burden  of  guilt. 


Blind  and  Deaf  Servant.  219 

Thus  he  said  to  his  ancient  Israel,  **  Return,  O  backsliding 
daughter,  for  I  am  married  unto  you,  saith  the  Lord."  He 
neither  reproaches  nor  casts  out  any   who  come    to  him. 

6.  He  is  also  blind  and  deaf  to  the  pretensions^  zeal^ 
prayers  and  profession  of  the  self-righteous  hypocrite.  He 
would  not  receive  the  offering  of  Cain.  Such  were  the 
hypocritical  offerings  of  Israel  and  hence  rejected.  He  testi- 
fies against  them  (Isaiah  66:3).  *'He  that  killeth  an  ox 
is  as  if  he  slew  a  man;  he  that  sacrificeth  a  lamb  as  if  he 
cut  off  a  dog's  neck :  and  he  that  offereth  an  oblation  as 
if  he  blessed  an  idol."  They  chose  their  way,  God  chose 
their  delusions.  So  scribes  and  Pharisees  who  for  a  pre- 
tense made  long  prayers  and  yet  robbed  widows'  houses, 
received  the  greater  damnation  (Matt  23:14).  Such  was  the 
prayer  of  the  Pharisee,  and  he  was  unblessed.  All  the  pleas  of 
such  at  the  judgment  will  be  vain,(Matt.  7:23).  All  re- 
ligion without  love  is  vain  (i  Cor.  13:  1-3).     (Heb.  11:  6). 

7.  A  time  is  coming  when  to  every  impenitent  sinner 
Christ  will  be  blind  and  deaf  to  all  his  sighs  and  tears. 
Though  long  suffering  and  patient,  there  is  a  point  beyond 
which  his  forbearance  will  not  go.  This  is  true  of  nations. 
When  the  flood  came,  when  Sodom  and  other  cities  were  wrap- 
ped in  flames,  when  the  ten  plagues  fell  upon  Egypt 
and  Pharaoh's  host  sank  in  the  Red  Sea,  when  the  Roman 
army  closed  around  Jerusalem  the  day  of  grace  was  ended, 
and  in  each  case  an  awful  doom  followed.  This  is  true 
of  every  sinner  when  death  comes.  It  may  take  place  long 
before,  how  long  we  know  not.  Belshazzar  and  Herod 
arrived  at  that  state  and  were  given  up.  Asaph  describes 
it(Psalm  'J7,:  4).  Then  no  more  sacrifice  for  sin  but  a  fear- 
ful looking  for  of  judgment.  The  door  then  shut.  Solo- 
mon describes  such  (Prov.  1:24-27).  This  an  awful  state. 
Let  the  sinner   tremble  before  it  is  too  late. 


220  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 


IMPROVEMENT. 


It  was  necessary  that  Christ  should  be  thus  blind  and 
deaf.  Only  a  spotless  victim  could  be  accepted  to  make 
atonement.  Had  he  failed  in  a  single  point  all  would  have 
been  lost.  Hence,  the  amazing  responsibility  under  which 
he  labored  during  his  entire  life,  especially  the  most  trying 
moments  in  Gethsemane,  before  the  Jewish  Sanhedrin,  at 
Pilate's  bar,  and  when  all  the  powers  of  Hell  combined  to 
crush  him.  When  God  forsook  him  and  he  trod  the 
wine-press   alone,    then  he  cried,    "It  is  finished." 

2.  In  this,  Christ  is  our  inspired  pattern, (i  Pet. 2:21), 
at  which  all  should  industriously  aim.  None  can  hope 
to  come  fully  up  to  it  in  this  life,  yet  effort  is  the  source 
of  improvement.  When  this  ceases,  so  does  improvement. 
Here  see  the  folly  of  those  who  think  they  have  arrived  at  a 
state  of  perfection. 

3.  No  christian  should  be  satisfied  with  his  present  at- 
tainments. Paul  was  not  yet  perfect,  nor  had  attained  in 
full,  but  he  labored  to  apprehend  that  for  which  he  was  ap- 
prehended of  Christ.  Thus  striving,  the  christian  will  go 
from  strength  to  strength  till  he  appears  before  God. 
O  for  grace  to  be  like  our  Redeemer,  deaf  and  blind  to 
all  that  is  sinful  and  vain,  to  be  vessels  fit  for  the  Mas- 
ter's  use   and   ready  -for   toil  and   sacrifice! 


THE    ALL    SUFFICIENXY    OF    CHRIST. 

"And  the  key  of  the  House  of  David  will  I  lay  upon 
his  shoulder,  and  he  shall  open,  and  none  shall  shut,  and 
he  shall  shut  and  none  shall  open.  And  I  will  fasten  him 
as  a  nail  in  a  sure  place,  and  he  shall  be  for  a  glorious 
throne  to  his  father's  house.  And  they  shall  hang  upon 
him  all  the  glory  of  his  father's  house,  the  offspring  and 
the  issue,  all  vessels  of  small  quantity,  from  the  vessels  of 
cups,  even  to  all  the  vessels  of  flagons."  Isaiah  xxii:  22- 
24. 

In  this  chapter,  verses  fifteen  and  twenty-fifth,  the  removal 
of  Shebna  an  unworthy  officer,  and  the  appointment  of 
Eliakim  to  succeed  him,  with  the  blessings  which  should 
result  from  his  administration  are  clearly  predicted.  All 
this  was  doubtless  fulfilled  in  due  time.  This  passage  has 
also  an  application  to  Christ.  Christ  the  infallible  interpreter 
of  scripture  applies  a  part  of  this  discription  to  himself. 
Rev.  111:7.  While  all  was  true  literally  of  Eliakim,  all  is 
true  in   a  higher  sense  of  our  Redeemer. 

The   theme  which    is   the   import   of  the   text  is,  The   all 

sufficiency   of  Christ.     This  is  presented    under   four   signif- 

.  icant   metapl^rs.     The  key,    the  nail,    the  throne,   the  glory. 

Firstly— The  key  he  holds.  The  house  of  David  is  literally  the 
kirgdom  over  which  David  ruled,  mystically  it  refers  to  the 
gospel  church,  of  which  the  kingdom  of  David,  was  only 
t}pical.  To  hold  the  key  is  the  official  work  of  a  treasurer^ 
a  work  of  much  responsibility  and  honor.  Such  was  the 
office  of  the  Eunuch    Philip  baptized.     Acts,   viii-27. 


222  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

Christ  holds  the  key  of  the  whole  moral  universe  which 
he  opens  and  shuts  at  pleasure.  This  includes,  i.  Hea- 
ven which  was  shut  by  sin  against  all  the  fallen  race  of 
Adam.  But  Christ  has  opened  it  by  his  obedience,  sac- 
rifice, and  intercession,  to  every  penitent  sinner  who 
will  believe  on  him.  2.  He  holds  the  key  of  the  gospel 
church,  which  is  his  militant  kingdom.  He,  in  his  word, 
has  opened  its  door  wide,  to  every  penitent  who  believes 
in  him,  irrespective  of  race  or  color,  or  previous  condition, 
and  closed  it  against  everybody  else.  3.  Of  the  heart.  All 
hearts  are  closed  against  him,  no  human  power  can  open 
our  hearts.  But  as  he  opened  the  heart  of  Lydia  Acts  16 
:i4,  so  it  has  been  of  every  soul  who  is  converted,  his 
grace  can  open  the  hardest  heart.  4.  He  opens  death  and 
hades.  By  his  resurrection  death  is  abolished,  life  and  im- 
mortality are  brought  to  light.  *'A11  in  their  graves  shall 
hear  his  voice  and  come  forth."  5.  Of  the  bottomless  pit. 
Then  he  will  confine  the  old  serpent  a  thousand  years. 
And  finally  satan,  his  angels  and  every  sinner  dy- 
ing impenitent,  will  there  be  eternally  confined  This 
will  be  the  second  death.  Revelation  2c:  1-3;  14-15 
verses. 

Surely  with  this  key,  "he  opens  and  none  can  shut, 
shuts  and  none  can  open." 

Secondly — He  is  a  nail  fastened  in  a  sure  place.  This 
metaphor  alludes  to  the  custom  of  inserting  pins,  as  nails 
in  the  post  or  beams  in  a  house,  for  the  purpose  of  sus- 
pending articles  on   them. 

The  term  denotes  the  permanence  and  stability  of  Christ, 
in  his  official  work.  Shebna  was  removed  for  incapcity, 
Eliakim    would  die.. 

The  high  priest  could  not  continue  because  of  death.  So 
of    all   kings  or  prophets,   but  Christ  abides  and    will  have 


The  all  Sutficienct  of  Christ.  223 

no  successor.     The  prophet   informs    us,    "a   tried    stone." 
Isaiah  28:16. 

Trial  develops  strength.  Christ  was  tried  by  heaven, 
earth,  and  hell.  He  was  tried  by  the  law  in  all  its  demands, 
against  him  as  the  surety  of  his  people.  He  owned  the 
demand  and  discharged  it  in  agonies,  groans,  sweat,  blood, 
and  death.  Nailed  all  to  his  cross.  He  was  tried  by  satan 
the  god  of  this  world,  by  all  his  artful  seductions  in  the 
wilderness,  onTthe  temple,  and  on  the  mountain.  He  was 
tried  by  the  ungodly  Jews  and  Romans  who  used  every 
means  to  defeat  him,  and  drive  him  from  his  work.  He 
was  tried  by  toil,  hunger,  weariness,  and  the  reproaches 
and  scorn  of  his  enemies.  He  was  tried  by  his  auful  agony 
in  the  garden,  by  his  bloody  sweat,  and  the  indignities 
inflicted  on  him.  Then  by  a  crown  of  thorns,  mock  scep- 
ter, blind-folding,  scourging  and  vinegar  for  his  thirst.  He 
was  tried  on  the  cross  by  its  auful  agony,  the  railing  of 
the  malefactor,  and  the  hiding  of  his  father's  face.  He 
was  tried  by  his  diciples  who  forsook  him  and  fled,  Judas 
who  betrayed  him,  and  Peter  who  denied  him.  He  was 
tried  in  Joseph's  tomb  and  by  the  guards  who  watched 
his  body.  And  alas  how  often  is  he  tried  by  the  follies 
of  his  children  .  Amid  all  these  trials  he  developed  his 
stability,  neither  earth  nor  hell  could  move  him,  "the  cup 
(said  he)which  my  father  gave  me  to  drink  shall  I  not 
drink  it.?"  He  was  officially  both  deaf  and  blind  to  all 
the  favors  or  flatteries  of  both  friends  or  foes.  He  was  a 
person  of  one  idea,  and  one  purpose.  His  work  was  al- 
ways before  him,  his  sole  purpose  was  to  finish  it.  Surely 
then  in  his  official  work,  he  was  as  a  nail  fastened  in  a 
sure  place. 

Thirdly — He  should  be   a  glorious  throne  to  his    father's 
house.      By  his  father's  house  we  understand  the   new    testa- 


224  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

menl  church  which  is  God's  house  in  the  kingdom  of  Christy 
By  a  common  figure  of  speech  the  throne  is  here  used  for 
himself 

Who  is  seated  on  this  throne.  The  text  might  be  read 
thus,  He  shall  make  the  throne  of  his  father's  house  glor- 
ious. Such  is  the  plain  meaning  of  the  sentence.  Cer- 
tain things  constitute  a  throne  glorious,  and  this  developes 
every  conceivable  element  of  glory,  as,  i. — Superior  wisdom. 
Christ  is  infinite  in  wisdom,  even  wisdom  personified,  Prov.  8. 
He  is  in  perfection  what  Solomon  was  only  in  degree. 
He  devised  the  plan  of  human  redemption,  displaying  the 
highest  wisdom.  2. — Justice  is  an  element  of  glory  in  a 
throne.  "Justice  and  judgment  are  the  habitation  of  his 
throne,  while  mercy  and  truth  go  before  his  face."  3 — Pow- 
er is  an  element  of  glory  in  a  throne,  it  is  developed  in 
justice  an  equity.  Christ  is  not  only  mighty  but  almighty. 
To  protect  his  children,  and  crush  his  foes.  His  power 
is  always  exercised  in  harmony  with  all  that  is  right.  As 
the  judge  of  all  the  earth,  he  cannot  do  wrong.  '  Even  his 
vengence  on  the  antediluvians,  Sodom  and  Egypt;  while 
it  displays  his  power  was  all  executed  in  equity  and  none 
could  impeach  him  with  folly.  4. — Sovereignity  displayed 
in  justice  always  gives  permanency  and  glory  to  a  throne. 
Christ  is  an  absolute  sovereign,  his  will  is  law  in  all  cases, 
from  twhich  there  is  no  appeal.  Life  and  death  are  in  his 
hands.  He  sets  up  one,  and  puts  down  another  at  his 
will.  No  one  can  say,  What  doest  thou  .'*  The  fate  of  nations 
as  well  as  individual  is  in  his  hands.  5. — But  grace 
and  mercy,  if  exercised  in  harmony  with  justice  make 
a  throne  especially  glorious.  God's  mercy  through  Christ 
flows  a  boundless  stream,  and  though  he  pardons  trans- 
gressions and  sin,  he  will  by  no  means  clear  th^ 
guilty;  while  his   law    developed    in   the   whole    ministry   o 


The  all  Sufficiency  of  Christ.  225 

Moses  was  glorious  as  one  of  condemnation.  The  gospel 
far  exceeds  in  glory,  hence  angels  celebrate  his  birth,  in  a 
song  of  ''glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  on  earth  peace  and 
good  will  to  men."  Such  is  the  song  of  every  convert.  Such 
is  the  song  of  every  gospel  church,  and  such  will  be  the  end- 
less song  of  heaven. 

Fourthly — The  glory  of  Christ  in  his  sustaining  grace. 
In  the  text  we  are  informed  he  sustains,  i. — All  the  glory 
of  his  father's  house,  the  new  testament  church  is  his  fath- 
er's house.  It  was  built,  ruled,  defended,  and  provided 
for  by  Jehovah,  and  he  makes  his  dwelling  there.  The 
conversion  of  our  souls  is  so  glorious  it  fills  heaven  with 
delight.  Countless  millions  will  be  redeemed  and  called  to 
this  house.  'They  shall  be  brought  from  all  ages  of  the 
world,  from  all  nations,  languages,  and  color,  and  all  in- 
tellectual, moral,  and  social  positions,  all  justified  and  sanc- 
tified, and  made  meet  for  heaven.  All  the  glory  of  each 
individual  of  this  vast  assembly  hangs  upon  our  glorious 
Redeemer.  2. — All  vessels  of  small  quanity  "from  the  ves- 
sels of  cups  even  unto  the  vessels  of  flagons,"  Each  true 
member  of  the  church  of  Christ  is  a  vessel  of  mercy  who 
was  wrought  by  Christ,  to  be  a  monument  of  his  grace, 
and  show  forth  his  glory.  As  in  a  large  and  well  furnished 
house,  there  are  vessels  of  various  capacity,  adapted  to  va- 
rious uses,  so  it  is  in  the  church  of  Christ,  here  we  behold 
prophets,  apostles,  evangelists,  pastors,  deacons,  helps, 
governments.  Some  official  and  others  private  members. 
We  behold  various  grades,  in  pecuniary  ability,  intellectual 
culture,  natural  talents,  public  gifts;  hence  in  the  church 
we  find  fathers,  young  men  and  litde  children.  These  are 
vessels  of  various  capacity,  and  each  has  his  appropriate 
place  of  usefulness  in  Uie  church.  4. — But  they  all 
alike     hang     upon     this     nail,     and     he    is     able      to  sus- 


226  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

tain  the  whole.  This  is  true.  i. — In  the  meritori- 
ous sense  of  the  word.  All  are  saved  by  the  same 
atonement,  regenerated  by  the  same  spirit,  justified  by  the 
same  imputed  righteousness,  heirs  of  the  same  inheritance, 
and  will  sing  the  same  song  in  heaven  to  all  eternity. 
2, — In  the  experimental  sense  of  the  term,  all  have  ahke 
seen  their  ruined  condition  by  sin,  and  had  the  same  re- 
pentance. All  had  seen  the  way  of  salvation  through  Christ, 
and  believed  on  him,  all  alike  ascribe  the  glory  of  their 
salvation  to  Christ,  sing  the  same  song  here,  and  will  in 
heaven  ever  own  all  is  of  grace.  3.  In  the  practical  sense 
of  the  word  all  look  to  Christ  as  law  giver,  pattern,  lead- 
er. The  same  ordinances  for  all,  and  all  feel  bound  to 
obey  his  commands.  Most  surely  then  all  the  glory  of  his 
father's  house,     the   offspring   and   issue    hang    upon    him. 

From  the  whole  we  may  infer, 

I. — What  is  the  grand  mark  ofa  true  christian,  viz:  hav- 
ing correct  views  of  Christ,  as  he  is  revealed  in  the  scrip- 
ture. The  word  of  truth  in  the  bible  and  of  grace  in  the 
heart  of  the  believer,  have  the  same  origin,  viz  :  the  holy 
ghost,  and  so  they  must  argue,  as  Christ  is  revealed  in  the 
bible  he  is  all  sufficient  to  the  true  Christian,  and  he  must  be  all 
and  in  all.  If  Christ  is  every  thing  in  our  view,  self  is 
nothing,  for  they  always  occupy  opposite  scales  in  the  bal- 
ance. 2. — Our  life  of  service  is  the  grand  evidence  of  the 
disposition  of  our  heart.  He  who  loves  most  will  serve 
most.  Hence  a  flaming  zeal,  a  great  memory,  eloquence,  of 
speech  and  profound  knowledge,  may  all  exist  when  love 
is  absent.  (See  ist.  Cor.  i3.)0bedience,  consecration,  per- 
severance cross-bearing  and  especially  benevolence  are  the 
evidences  of  o  ur  own  state.  The  individual  who  hopes  he 
is  a  christian  and  on  his  way  to  heaven  and  yet  clings  to 
his  wealth,  as  the  chief  good,  gives   poor   evidence   of    hav- 


The  aiaj  Sufficiency  of  Chkist.  22 1 

ing  all  his  hopes  hanging  upon  this  nail.  3. — This  subject 
is  the  best  news  to  the  hungry,  mourning'  seeking  soul. 
While  you  can  do  nothing,  there  is  nothing  for  you  to 
do,  but  believe  in  him,  who  is  all  sufficient,  and  will  save 
to  the  uttermost,  all  who  come  to  God  by  him.  4. — The 
awful  folly  and  just  doom  of  those  who  will  not  have  this 
Redeemer  to  rule  over  them.  Oh !  sinner  think  of  the  day, 
when  he  shall  say,  Bring  forth  these  my  enemies  who  would 
not    that  I  should  rule  over  them,  and  slay  them  before  me. 


THE    GLORY    OF    GOSPEL    BAPTISM. 

"And  they  both  went  down  into  the  water,  both  PhiHp 
and  the  Eunuch;  and  he  baptized  him."     Acts    8:  ^S. 

This  is  the  only  place  in  the  New  Testament  where  the 
ordinance  of  baptism  is  minutely  described.  This  descrip- 
tion is  given  for  our  instruction  and  imitation.  Philip  the 
evangelist  was  directed  by  the  angel  of  the  Lord  to  "go 
toward  the  south,  into  the  way  that  goeth  down  from 
Jerusalem  to  Gaza."  There  he  met  "a  man  of  great  au- 
thority," a  Jewish  Proselyte.,  returning  from  Jerusalem  and 
engaged  in  reading  the  roll  of  Isaiah.  Philip  by  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Spirit  joined  himself  to  the  chariot,  and  by  in- 
vitation entered  it,  and  preached  unto  the  Eunuch  the  doc- 
trine of  atonement  by  the  offering  of  Christ.  He  set  forth 
clearly  the  meaning  of  the  passage  he  was  reading.  It  was 
done  under  the  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  who  also  open- 
ed the  understanding  of  the  inquirer  to  know  the  truth  as 
it  is  in  Jesus.  As  they  rode  along  they  came  to  a  certain 
water  and  the  Eunuch  requested  to  be  baptized.  The  re- 
quest was  granted,  the  chariot  was  ordered  to  stop,  and  the 
initiatory  rite  was  administered  to  this  convert  to  the  relig- 
ion of  Christ.      He  went  on  his  way  rejoicing. 

The  description  given  of  baptism  in  the  text  is  so  plain 
no  argument  can  render  it  more  so.  The  proof  of  immersion 
is  needless.  All  admit  2/  to  be  baptism.  To  attempt 
to  prove  that  sprinkling  is  not  baptism  is  a  work  of  super- 
erogation. No  man  is  under  any  obligation  to  prove  a 
negative.     Let  those  who  practice  it  prove  it  from  the  Bible. 


GloPvY  of  Gogpel  Baptis:  229 

The    Superior    glory   of  this    ordinance  is    the  point  n'^\^ 
under   contemplation.      God   is    glorious  in  himself.      Ali   hi ; 
v,\)rl;s     are    glorious,    so     are    all    his    ordinances,  but    on^ 
may    be    more      glorious   than    another.     Of  all   institutior 
baptism    is   ihi     most     glorious. 

First — It  has   an   author itat roe   glory. 

Every  command  is  glorious  in  propoition  to  the  digni- 
ty of  the  authority  whence  it  emanates,  whether  paren- 
tal or  political.  God's  law  has  the  highest  authority.  Bap- 
tism is  a  positive  command  of  Christ,  incorporated  in  the 
commission  given  to  his  disciples,  (]\Iatt.  28:  19).  Under 
his  authority  they  required  every  convert  to  submit  to  this 
ordinance. 

Second — Baptism    has    an   exemplary  glory. 

There  is  a  glory  in  the  example  of  the  learned,  aged, 
wise  and  good.  Why  was  Christ  baptized.?  Not  as  a  Je\A- 
ish  Priest.  The  law  commanded  the  Priest  to  be  vra^ilied 
at  the  door  of  the  tabernacle,  not  baptized  in  Jorc'oi  cr 
any  other  place.  Christ  was  a  Priest  not  after  the  order 
of  Aaron  but  of  IMelchisedek.  He  was  baptized  to  fulfil 
all  righteousness.  So  of  every  divine  institution.  He  gave 
us  an  example  that  we  shouM  follow  him.  He  says  to 
every  believer,  "Deny  thyself,  take  up  thy  cross,  and  fol- 
low me."  Surely  tliere  was  a  superior  glory  in  this  exam- 
ple. 

Thirdly — Baptism    has    an  approp-ia!e  glory. 

It  points  the  candidate  and  audience  to  Jordon  where 
the  Redeemer  submitted  to  the  Divine  rite,  (IMatt.  3:  13-17). 
John,  sent  of  God  to  baptize,  was  the  administrator;  Jesus, 
our  incarnate  Redeemer,  the  candidate.  The  Holy  Spiii^ 
descended  and  lit  upon  him.  A  voice  from  the  Father 
said,  "This  is  my  Beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  jilcas- 
ed."     The    three    persons    of  the    Trinity    were    here,      livcrv 


230  Elder  Zelotes  Geenell. 

baptismal  scene  brings  this  incident  in  the  life  of  Christ 
before  us  and  demonstrates  the  superior  glory  of  this  or- 
dinance. 

Fourthly — It  has  a  glory  which  arises  from  the  character  oi 
the  candidate.  He  is  not  a  sinless  infant,  brought  to  the 
font  against  its  will,  nor  a  grrcelcss  adult  with  no  love 
to  God.  He  is  a  believer  in  Christ,  who  was  eternally 
chosen  to  salvation,  was  purchased  VN'ith  the  blood  of  the 
son  of  God,  renewed  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  justified,  pardon- 
ed, washed  by  the  grace  of  God  and  is  through  Clirist 
an    heir  of   glory. 

Fifthly — Baptism  has  a  vwtivo  glory,  arising  from  the 
motive  actuating  the  candidate  when  submitting  to  it_ 
In  all  moral  performances  mo.ive  crowns  the  action.  An 
unworthy  motive  pollutes  the  best  action  and  renders  it 
solemr  mockery.  The  candidate  in  this  ordinance  is  not 
influenced  by  gain,  honor,  human  applause  or  political  au- 
thority, but  by  the  highest  motive  that  ever  moved  an  in- 
telligent being,  viz.,  the  glory  of  Gcd.  He  had  inquired 
''Lord,  what  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do.?"  He  has  read, 
<*  Arise,  and  be  baptized  and  wash  away  thy  sins,  calling  on 
the  name  of  the  Lord."  Love  leads  him  onward.  A  glori. 
ous  motive. 

Sixthly — There  is  a  glory  in  the  ordinance  vievred  as  a 
sign  or  symbol  It  symbolizes  our  death  to  sin,  our  quick- 
ening by  the  spirit,  being  washed  from  pollution  ;  salvation 
by  the  resurrection  of  Christ,  a  new  life  and  heavenly  felici- 
ty. In  this  sense  it  washes  awav  sin,  is  fcr  the  remission 
of  sin,  not  for  regeneration  but  the  sign  of  it.  In  every 
unregenerate  candidate  it  is  a  false  sign,  in  every  true  chris 
tian  a  true  one  (Rom.   6:  3-5). 

Seventhly — Baptism  has  a  glory  in  view  of  its  effects  on 
the  relation  of  the  baptized.       The  change  of  a  person's  re 


Glohy  o  '  Gosi'EL  B.vptis:.:.  231 

lations  and  of  his  moral  condition  are  two  very  different 
things.  Baptism  produces  no  change  on  the  heart  or  on 
th.e  moral  condition,  but  its  effects  on  the  relations  of  the 
individual  are  great.  There  are  three  transactions  in  civ- 
il life  that  are  analagous  to  it.  i.  The  \2i\v  <:){  naturalization 
by  which  one  of  foreign  birth  becomes  a  citizen.  This  ef- 
fects no  change  in  his  heart.  He  loved  our  govern- 
ment before  he  was  naturalized,  now  he  is  a  cidzen  having  a  right 
to  all  its  privileges.  2.  '\\\q.  enlistment  2i's,  a  soldier  to  fight 
in  his  countrie's  cause.  This  effects  not  his  moral  state;  for 
he  loved  the  cause  before;  but  it  changes  his  reladons  from 
a  private  citizen  to  a  soldier  bound  by  oath  to  perform  all 
the  duties  of  the  soldier.  3.  The  law  of  matrimony.  Ir 
entering  the  marriage  state  there  is  no  moral  change.  The 
parties  loved  each  other  most  sincerely  before.  Eut  it  makes 
a  total  change  in  their  relations  to  each  other.  They  are 
now  recognized  as  husband  and  wife  bound  by  all  the 
obligations  contained  in  the  marriage  covenant.  So  in  this 
ordinance  the  foreigner  becomes  a  cidzen  r.nd  has  all  the 
rights  and  privileges  of  citizenship  .  The  private  citizen 
becomes  a  soldier,  has  all  his  privileges  and  is  bound  to 
perform  all  his  duties.  And  the  individual  takes  Christ  as 
husband,  swears  eternal  allegiance  to  Him,  and  secures  al] 
the  privileges  of  a  wife.  All  who  are  baptized  into  Chriit 
have  put  on  Christ.  Surely  such  changes  in  the  relations 
of  the    candidate  arc   glorious   indeed. 

Eightly — Baptism  has  also  a  discriminating  glory.  This 
world  is  composed  of  two  moral  kingdoms,  one  ruled  by 
Christ,  the  other  by  Satan.  The  inhabitants  of  these  King, 
doms  are  intermixed.  Those  of  our  kingdom  have  a  right 
to  all  the  blessings  and  privileges  of  the  new  covenar' 
and  those  belonging  to  the  other  are  children  of  wrc.... 
and   under   sentence    of  death.      Between    the    two  kinr^doms 


232  Elder  Zelotes  Geenlll. 

there  is  a  perpetual  war.  In  faith  and  practice  the  inhab- 
tants  of  the  twj  are  wide  apart,  and  the  poUcy  of  both 
not  defensive  but  aggressive.  IMost  surely  then  it  is  of  much 
importance  that  a  line  should  be  drawn  between  them^ 
This  discriminating  line  is  Gospel  Baptism.  Every  person 
truly  ccnverted  belongs  to  the  invisible  kingdom  of  Christ 
and  should  be  baptized,  that  he  may  be  publicly  recogniz- 
ed as  a  member  of  Christ's  kingdom.  No  unconverted  man 
has  a  right  to  this  ordinance,  for  if  he  comes  into  the  king- 
tdom  he  is  at  the  feast  without  a  wedding  garment.  If  in 
he  building  up  of  this  kingdom,  the  separation  is  not  per- 
fect, it  is  not  owing  to  any  deficiency  or  obscurity  in  the 
laws  of  the  ordinance,  but  in  our  obtuseness  in  the  under- 
standing and  application  of  it.  The  church  is  bound  to 
make  this  line  as  perfect,  as  she  can.  In  the  Apostolic  age 
it  was  nearly  perfect  and  so  will  it  be  in  the  MiDennial  state 
of  the  church.  Oar  only  remedy  is  to  exclude  any  who 
creep  in  unawares,   either  by  self  deception     or  hypocrisy. 

Ninthly — This  ordinance  lias  also  a  moninneiUal  glory. 
Nations  from  time  immemorial  have  erected  monu- 
ments to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  important  events.  Such 
are  found  in  all  parts  of  the  old  world  and  in  many  places 
in  our  own  country.  See  Baltimore,  Bunker  Hill,  Gettysburg 
Antietam  and  Atlanta.  The  Passover  feast  of  tabernacles, 
the  twelve  stones  set  up  at  Gilgal,  were  among  the  many 
.monuments  erected  by  divine  command  in  the  Jewish  na- 
tion. There  is  a  glory  in  every  monument  in  })rcportion  to 
the  greatness  of  the  event  it  was  erected  to  perpetuate  the  mem- 
ory of  Baptism  is  a  monument  elected  by  Christ's 
authority  to  commemorate  his  lesurrection,  the  most  im- 
portant event  of  tinie.  In  this,  he  gained  a  conquest  over 
death,  hdl  and  the  grave,  and  all  the  dominions  of  the  king 
of  these  terrors.      Tills  was  his  legal  discharge  and  the  dis- 


Glory  of  Gospel  Baptism.  23o 

charge  of  all  his  people  in  their  covenant  head.  Were  il 
not  for  this,  Paul  affirms  our  faith  and  preaching  arc  vain 
(i  Cor.  15:14-15).  As  the  monument  of  Bunker  Hill  de- 
monstrates a  battle  was  there  fought  and  a  victory  gained, 
so  this  monument  proves  the  resurrection  of  Christ.  That 
it  is  such  a  monument  erected  by  divine  authority  for  that 
purpose  has  the  clearest  evidence  of  holy  writ.  ''What  shall 
they  do  who  are  baptized  for  the  dead  ?  if  the  dead  rise  not, 
why  are  they  then  baptized  for  the  dead  (i  Cor.  15:28).'' 
So  also  in  (Romans  4):  "Buried  with  him  by  baptism  into 
death,  that  like  as  he  was  raised  from  the  dead  by  the  glory 
of  the  Father,  even  so  we  also  should  walk  in  newness  of 
life.  Also  (Coloss.  2:12):  "Buried  with  him  in  baptism  where- 
in also  ye  are  risen  with  him."  The  candidate  demonstrates 
his  belief  in  the  resurrection  of  Christ  The  final  salvation 
of  all  represented  by  Christ  as  the  first  fruits  are  secured 
by  emblem.  What  then  were  all  the  victories  of  Alexander, 
Caesar  and  Napoleon  in  comparison  to  the  victory  gained 
on  Calvary  and  in  Joseph's  tomb?  Surely  that  which  per- 
petuates this  grand  event  must  be  glorious  indeed. 
From  the  whole  we  may  properly  infer, 
I.  The  great  contrast  between  Gospel  baptism  and  infant 
sprinkling  and  giving  it  the  name  of  baptism.  That  has  no 
authoiitative  glory.  Christ  never  commanded  it;  no  exem- 
plary glory,  he  never  set  such  an  example;  no  appropriate 
glory,  it  points  to  no  solemn  scene;  no  dignity  glory,  the 
candidate  is  a  senseless  infant;  no  motive  glory,  the  infant 
has  no  motive  in  it,  all  is  farce;  no  sign  or  symbolical 
glory,  it  is  false  if  the  candidate  is  unregenerated ;  no  rela- 
tionship glory,  it  does  not  alter  the  child's  rerations ;  no  dis- 
criminating glory,  it  mixes  church  and  world  together;  no 
monumental  glory,  it  is  a  monument  of  nothing  in  heaven 
or  on  earth.      It  is  will-worship,   that  nourishes  superstition 


234  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

in  the  parent,  decieves  the  child,  corrupts  the  church,  in- 
troduces an  ungodly  priest-hood,  is  the  parent  of  that  aw- 
ful heresy  of  infant  damnation  and  the  legitimate  parent  of 
all  persecution  for  conscience  sake. 

2.  All  who  have  been  born  again  are  solemnly  bound  to 
submit  to  this  ordinance  as  a  duty  and  privilege.  Christ 
placed  baptism,  not  before  faith  nor  long  after  it,  but  at 
its  right  hand  as  the  first  public  duty  of  a  new  born  soul. 
There  it  is  glorious,   but  anywhere  else  it  is  a    deformity. 

3.  Those  submitting  to  the  ordinance  have  performed  the 
most  solemn  act  and  transaction  of  life.  In  these  conse- 
crated waters  you  swear  allegiance  to  Christ  in  the  presence 
of  the  triune  Jehovah,  angels  and  men.  There  you  become 
a  volunteer  in  the  Lord's  army.  There  you  take  the  glori- 
ous Redeemer  as  your  head  and  husband.  The  baptis- 
mal vow  can  never  be  annihilated,  its  obligations  will  fol- 
low you  all  your  days  and  stare  you  in  the  face  on 
the  dying  bed  and  meet  you  at  the  judgment  of  the 
great  day.  You  will  look  back,  in  all  your  pilgrimage 
to  those  waters  where  you  publicly  gave  your  soul  into 
the  hands  of  your  Redeemer.  That  look  will  create  joy 
or  sorrow  in  proportion  as  you  honor  or  disgrace  the 
solemn  profession  you  made.  May  the  Lord  enable  a'.] 
of  us  who  have  professed  his  Name  to  ever  honor  it  be- 
fore men,  that  we  may  die  in  faith  and  meet  in  glory  ■  lor 
Jesus,  sake.    Amen. 


DIVINE     INSTRUCTION. 


And  thine  ears  shall  hear  a  word  behind  thee,  saying 
this  is  the  way,  walk  ye  in  it,  when  ye  turn  to  the  right 
hand  and  when  ye  turn  to  the  left, (Isaiah    30:21st,). 

Commencing  with  verse  seventeenth  to  the  nineteenth,  the 
prophet  presents  in  his  discourse  a  mixture  of  mercies  and 
judgments.  In  verse  twenty  he  views  the  church  emerg- 
ing from  a  state  of  affliction  and  coming  into  a  condition 
of  comparative  prosperity,  "yet  shall  not  thy  teachers  be 
removed  into  a  corner  any  more.  Thine  eye  shall  behold 
thy  teachers."  This  event  may  correspond  with  the  res- 
urrection of  the   witnesses. (Rev.  :ii-ii.) 

Then  follow  the  promises  in  my  text.  My  theme  is, 
"Divine  ins  ruction."     L^t  us   consider: 

First — The  instruction.  Christ  is  the  great  teacher  o^ 
the  church.  Said  Moses,  "The  Lord  thy  God  will  raise 
up  unto  thee  a  prophet  from  the  midst  of  thee  of  thy 
brethren  like  unto  me,  unto  him  shall  ye  hearken.  "(Z?^«f. 
/(i'-zj) So  also  Isaiah  impersonating  him,  said,  "The  spirit 
of  the  Lord  God  is  upon  me,  because  the  Lord  hath 
anointed  me  to  preach  good  tidings  unto  the  meek.  He 
hath  sent  me  to  bind  up  the  broken  hearted,  to  proclaim 
liberty  to  the  captives,  and  the  opening  of  the  prisons 
to   t  lem   that  are   bound."     {Isaiah :6i-i.) 

Christ  accepted  the  description  and  applied  it  to  him- 
self {Luke:4-i8)i:hQ  public  ministry  of  Christ  lasted  three 
years  and  a  half  He  taught  as  one  having  authority, 
his   enemies  being  judges.      His  teaching  was  simple,  appro- 


236  Elder  Zelotes  Geenell. 

priate,  forcible,  discriminating,  and  important,  and  always 
true  and  unmixed  with  error.  As  other  teachers  use  text 
books  to  simplify  their  instruction  so  does  he.  Creation 
is  a  book  of  instruction  in  his  hand.  "The  heavens 
declare  the  glory  of  God  ;  and  the  firmament  showeth  his 
handy-work.  "There  is  no  speech  nor  language  where 
their  voice  is  not  heard."  (Psalms:i6-i.3-)"For  the  in- 
visible things  of  him  from  the  creation  of  the  world,  ^are 
clearly  seen  being  understood  by  the  things  that  are  made, 
even  his  eternal  power  and  God-head :  so  that  they  are  with" 
out  excuse.  (Rom.  i:-20.)He  also  uses  the  book  of  his  un- 
iversal providence,  for  their  instruction,  whose  opening  leaves 
unfold  new  wonders.  "Consider  the  lillies  of  the  field  how 
they  grow,  they  toil  not,  neither  spin,  and  yet  I  say  unto 
you  even  Solomon  in  all  his  glory  was  not  arrayed  like  one 
of  these."  (Math.  6:28-26.  )Every  providence  whether  sorrow- 
ful or  joyful  is  used  as  a  source  of  instruction.  But  the 
nspired  volume  is  the  great  book  of  instruction,  which  he 
commands  us  to  search.  By  it  the  man  of  God  may  be 
"furnished  unto  every  good  w^ork."  By  its  teachings  all 
may  "become  wise  unto  salvation."  By  the  instruction  of 
this  book  David  became  wiser  than  his  teachers.  Other 
instructors  employ  under-teachers ;  so  also  does  Christ.  The 
Holy  Spirit  is  a  teacher  equal  to  himself,  sent  by  him  to 
lead  into  all  truth.  This  teacher  instructs  in  unison,  im- 
parts lessons  of  truth  from  the  word.  Under  him  also  are 
prophets,  apostles,  evangelists  and  ordinary  pastors,  all  of 
whom  occupy  important  positions  as  teachers,  each  in  his 
sphere,   and  all  as  public  teachers  under  his  guidance. 

Secondly — Who  are  the  taught.  "Thine  ear  shall  hear 
a  word  behind  thee."  All  the  ungodly  are  like  the  deaf 
adder  that  stoppeth  her  ear,  which  will  not  hearken  to  the 
voice  of  charmers,  charming  never   so  wisely.  (Psalm  58:45.) 


Divine  Instruction.  2;:>T 

The  adder  is  not  physically  deaf,  but  so  opposed  to  music 
that  it  stops  its  ears,  as  naturalist  say,  by  laying  one  car 
in  the  ground  and  closing  the  other  with  its  tail. 

So  the  sinner  closes  his  ears  to  divine  instruction  by  his 
pride,  sensuality,  self-righteousness,  love  of  wealth,  vain 
amusements  and  heretical  sentiments.  He  doubts,  cavils, 
disbelieves  and  opposes  all  the  truth    of  God. 

The  church  of  Christ  is  composed  of  those  whose  ears 
have  been  circumcised  to  hear  the  teaching  of  divine  truth. 
Then  the  soul  hears  the  thunder  of  the  law  and  the  sweet 
music  of  the  gospel.  When  the  heart  is  opened  as  was 
Lydia's  of  old,  "and  as  were  those  of  the  three  thousand  at 
P.enticost,  of  Saul  of  Tarsus,  and  of  the  Phillippian  jailor. 
Then  they  hear  anxiously,  as  the  starving  hear  of  food,  as 
the  naked  of  clothing,  the  sick  of  medicine,  the  criminal 
of  pardon,   and  the  bankrupt   of  the  means  of  relief 

Thirdly — The  manner  of  Divine  instruction.  "A  word 
behind  thee.  '  Peculiar  expression.  This  may  be  used  in 
allusion  to  the  ancient  method  of  instruction  when  the 
instruction  was  mostly  oral,  and  the  teacher  stood  or  sat 
behind  his  pupils,  uttered  his  sentences  and  they  repeated. 
But  there  is  a  better  reason  than  this  and  the  following  con- 
siderations evince   the  propriety  of  this  expression. 

I. — All  men  have  turned  their  backs  upon  God,  and  are 
running  away  from  him.  God  cannot  alter  his  position  and 
the  sinner  will  not  hear  if  God  speaks  to  the  sinner.  It 
must  be  from   behind   him. 

2. — **  A  word  from  behind  "us  comes  from  one  who  sees 
us,  while  we  cannot  see  him.  Thus  it  was  with  Hagar,  "And 
she  called  the  name  of  the  Lord  that  spoke  unto  her.  "Thou 
God  seest  me,"  for  she  said,  "Have  I  also  here  looked 
after  him  that  seeth  me?"  (Gen.  16:13). Thus  every  soul 
to  whom  God  speaks,  and  arrests  in  his  mad   career.  "   Alas" 


238  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

says  the  awakened  sinner,  "God  sees  me,"  and  has  always, 
while  I  have  never  looked  to  him.  He  sees  and  has  marked 
all  my  sins." 

3. — A  word  from  behind  an  individual  is  starthng.  Many 
a  child  while  engaged  in  some  disobedient  act,  and  fancy- 
ing he  is  not  seen,  is  startled  by  hearing  his  name  called 
by  some  one  behind  him,  perhaps  a  brother,  sister,  mother, 
or  father. 

Thus  when  the  Spirit's  voice  reaches  the  heart  of  the  sinner, 
and  arrests  him  in  his  course  of  iniquity,  he  hears  his  name 
called,  as  was  Saul  of  Tarsus  when  the  Master  said  in  a 
voice  of  power  which  went  through  his  whole  soul,  "Saul! 
Saul !  why  persecutest  thou  me?'  This  was  a  voice  behind, 
startling  indeed.  Thus  was  the  jailor  startled  when  he  heard 
the  divine  voice  in  the  earthquake  which  shook  the  founda- 
tions of  the  prison.  Such  was  the  feeling  of  the  three  thous- 
and at  Pentecost.  Thus  the  Lord  works  to  convince  us 
of  sin,  righteousness  and  a  judgment  to  come,  as  thunder 
precedes  the  rain.  So  the  law  must  enter  that  the  offense 
might  abound.       Conviction  must  always  precede  conversion. 

Fourthly — The  matter  of  Divine    instruction. 

I. — Its  brevity.  It  is  but  a  word.  Warriors  tell  us  it 
takes  hundreds  of  balls  to  kill  one  person,  every  one  killed 
is  slain  by  one  ball,  all  the  other  balls  were  thrown  away. 
God  sends  many  words  of  instruction  which  are  apparently 
lost  upon  the  sinner,  but  that  which  reaches  the  heart,  is 
usually  a  word,  a  word  of  scripture  read,  a  word  from  the 
pulpit,  a  word  uttered  in  prayer;  and  sometimes  a  word 
dropped  causually  by  the  way-ride,  is  directed  by  the 
Spirt  to  the  heart,  reaches  the  soul  dead  in  sin,  and  at- 
tended by  the  quickening  of  the  spirit  crushes  the  soul  in 
the  dust,  and  one  word  of  promise  gives  relief  and  fills 
it   with    unspeakable   delight.     Thus   was    it  with    the   three 


Divine  Instruction.  239 

thousand  at  Pentecost,  and  with  the  jailor,  and  our  own 
experience  illustrates  it.  One  arrow  from  Jehovah's  quiver 
is  mighty  indeed. 

2. — This  is  a  word  conveying  knowledge  the  most  im- 
portant. ''This  is  the  way,"  O!  how  much  wisdom  is 
conveyed  in  this.  It  is  a  revelation  to  the  soul,  of  what 
it  was  totally  ignorant  of.  The  way  of  salvation  through 
the  active  obedience,  vicarious  death,  and  glorious  resur- 
rection of  Christ.  Thus  he  brings  ''the  blind  by  a  way 
they  know  not,"  "leads  them  in  paths  they  have  not  known 
makes  darkness  light  before  them,  and  crooked  things 
straight."'  Thus  are  all  his  children  instructed.  3, — This 
is  practical.  It  contains  not  only  some  things  to  believe 
but  some  things  to  do.  To  walk,  implies  action,  loco- 
motion. The  gospel  is  practical  in  its  demands  and  in- 
fluence. There  is  a  race  to  be  run,  a  battle  to  fight 
many  victories  to  be  gained,  many  crosses  to  be  borne. 
This    life   is   for   labor,    the   next   for    repose. 

4. — It  is  also  a  word  of  authority.  "Walk  ye  in  it,"' 
is  a  solemn  command  from  the  King  of  Zion,  and  "obe- 
dience is  better  than  sacrifice."  None  can  have  Christ  as 
a  piiest,  unless  they  have  him  as  a  King,  to  reign  over 
them,  and  put  their  neck  under  his  gracious  yoke.  Every 
command  of  Christ  is  imperious,  it  must  be  obeyed,  re- 
gardless of  the  consequences  that  may  follow.  5. — It  ss 
also  discriminating.  ''When  ye  turn  to  the  right  hand, 
and  w^hen  ye  turn  to  the  left,"  When  a  soul  is  converted 
he  is  placed  in  the  road  to  heaven,  with  his  face  heavenward. 
This  road  is  straight,  doctrinally,  experimentally  and  prac- 
ically.  If  he  moves  directly  onward,  he  will  ^always  be  rght. 
But  there  are  many  by-paths  .  Three  are  hear  named,  which 
reprc^rent  the  whole,  we  suppose  legality,  formality,  com- 
munism,  all  of  which  proceed  from  self  righteousness   is  a 


240  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

right  hand  path  because  it  is  the  religion  of  fallen  nature, 
developed  soon  after  the  fall,  in  the  fig  leaved  apron  our 
first  parents  clothed  themselves  with  and  the  sacrifice  of 
Cain.  The  Scribe  and  Pharisees  were  of  this  religion  "igno- 
rant of  God's  righteousness  and  going  about  to  establish 
their  own  righteousness."  Anti-nomianism,  which  is  faith 
without  works,  a  religion  the  main  element  of  which  is 
knowledge  is  a  left  hand  road,  not  as  much  frequented  as 
the  other,   yet  equally  fatal. 

James  says  it  is  dead  being  alone.  There  are  two  thingst 
in  nature  men  are  usually  fearful  off,  viz.,  a  body  withou 
a  soul,  which  is  a  mere  corpse  and  a  soul  without  a  body 
which  is  a  mere  spirit  or   ghost. 

Works  without  faith  is  a  body  without  a  soul,  and  faith 
without  works  is  a  soul  without  a  body.  The  Arminian  and 
Anti-nomian  have  divided  the  bible  between  them,  each  holds 
a  part  As  it  requires  a  whole  bible  to  constitute  a  gospel 
both  are  wrong.  As  soul  and  body  united  constitute  a  liv-, 
ing  man  of  which  none  are  frightened,  even  so  faith  and 
works  properly  united,  in  which  each  holds  its  appropriate 
place,  constitute  a  true  system  of  divinity,  a  living  christian 
in  Christ.  Faith  in  its  appropriate  place  looks  to  the  work 
of  Christ  as  the  ground  of  hope,  his  incarnation,  substitu- 
tion vicarious  sacrifice,  the  invinciblework  of  his  spirit  in  regen- 
eration, justification,  pardon,  adoption,  sanctification  and 
final  salvation,  and  in  all  this  he  carries  out  his  eternal 
purpose  of  grace.  The  appropriate  place  of  works  is  as  the 
evidence  of  salvation  and  absolutely  necessary  to  prove  a 
gracious  state.  The  contrast  between  this  and  those  by 
paths  and  the  gospel  is  this,  one  works  to  obtain  life,  the 
other  as  the  effect  of  life.  In  one  case  the  mill  moves  the 
water,  in  the  other  the  water  moves  the  mill.  Thence  faith 
resting  on  the  finished  work  of  Christ,    with   supreme  love 


Divinp:  Instruction.  241 

to  his  name  and  good  works  the  evidence  of  faith  the  true 
way.  Such  is  the  right  way  in  opposition  to  by-paths,  hence 
every  beHever  ascribes  grace,  grace,  grace  to  the  whole  work 
of  his   salvation. 

From  the  whole  we  infer. 

I. — The  gospel  ministry  is  the  voice  and  instruction  of 
Jesus  our  great  teacher.  That  voice  every  person  within 
leach  is  bound  to  hear,  believe  and  obey.  '-He  that  hear- 
eth  you,  heareth  me"  said  Christ,  and  *'he  the  despiseth 
yon  despiseth  me." 

2. — There  is  a  vast  contrast  between  every  converted  soul 
and  the  impenitent.  One  is  deaf  willfully,  the  other  hears 
anxiously,  lone  is  blind  willfully  and  the  othes  sees  with 
delight,   one  is  dead  in  sin,    the    other    is    alive    in    Christ. 

3. — As  God's  word  has  ample  instruction  we  shouid  al- 
ways consult  it,  view  it  as  the  standard  of  doctrine  experience 
and  practice,  bring  all  opinions  to  this  test,  knowing  it  is 
all  true  without  any  mixture  of  error. 

4. — Blessed  are  they  that  hear,  believe,  and  obey  the  voice 
of  the  teacher.  Christ  his  word  and  spirit  always  agree.  His 
communications  are  life  to  the  soul. 

-  5. — Those  who  will  not  hear  the  voice  of  this  instructor 
who  will  not  love  and  obey  have  no  good  excuse,  their 
own  conscience,  the  bible  and  its  ministry  all  testify  against 
them.  When  the  judgment  shall  sit  and  the  awful  sentence 
shall  be  passed,   they  will  be  speechless. 


REVEALING  SECRETS, 

There   is   a   God   in   heaven  that   reveals  secrets. 

Daniel  2:28 

About  s'x  hundred  and  six  years  before  the  coming  Of 
Christ,  Nebuchadnezzer  king  of  Babylon  took  the  city  of 
Jerusalem  and  carried  to  Babylon  the  nobility  and  many 
of  the  royal  seed.  From  among  these  captives  he  select- 
ed four  individuals,  viz.,  Daniel,  Shadrach,  Meshacg  and 
Abednego,  to  be  educated  at  the  expense  of  the  kingdom 
for  three  entire  years,  that  they  might  be  prepared  at  the 
end  of  that  time  to  stand  among  the  wise  counsellors  of 
the  nation. 

About  the  close  of  these  years  of  training,  the  heathen 
monarch  had  a  dream.  It  was  a  wonderful  one.  The  ap- 
pearance was  so  magnificent,  and  its  effects  on  the  mind  of 
such  a  nature  that  when  he  awoke  nothing  could  be  recal- 
led or  related  by  him. 

He  called  the  wise  men  of  his  realm  together,  informed 
them  he  had  had  a  wonderful  dream,  could  not  recall  it, 
yet  was  troubled  in  mind  about  it,  and  demanded  of  them 
to  tell  his  dream,    and  give  the  interpretation  of  it. 

They  promised  to  give  the  interpretation  if  he  would  tell 
the  dream.  He  demanded  on  the  penalty  of  death  that  they 
'  should  tell  his  dream. 

They  demured,  but  he  was  inexorable  and  gave  orders 
for  their  execution.  Daniel  said  to  the  appointed  execution- 
er, Why  is  the  king  so  hasty  ?  Bring  me  into  the  king's  pre- 
sence and  I  will  tell  him  his  dream,   and  its  interpretation, 

Danel  ibeing  introduced  to  the  king,   said,    -'Could  none 


Revealincj  Secrets.  243 

■« 
of  the  king's  wise  men  tell  the  king  his  dream?  TRere 
is  a  God  in  heaven  that  revealeth  secrets."  He  then  inform- 
ed the  king  that  he  saw  in  his  dream  a  great  image  whose 
head  was  of  gold,  its  belly  and  arms  were  of  silver,  its  thighs 
of  brass,  and  its  legs  and  feet  of  iron  and  clay.  He  also 
saw  a  stone  cut  out  of  the  mountain  without  hands,  that 
smote  the  image  upon  its  feet, — when  the  iron,  brass,  sil- 
ver and  gold  became  as  chaff  and  were  driven  away, 
and  the  stone  became  a  great  mountain ;  and  filled  the 
whole  earth.  He  informed  the  king, the  four  parts  of  the  image 
predicted  four  empires  which  should  succeed  each  other. 
The  head  of  gold  was  himself,  the  silver  portion  of  the  im- 
age denoted  a  kingdom  which  should  succeed  his,  which 
was,  as  history  informs  us  the  Medo-Persian.  The  brazen 
part  denoted  a  third  kingdom,  the  Grecian;  the  iron  part 
a  fourth  kingdom,  and  the  stone  a  fifth  kingdom  of  Christ, 
which  the  God  of  heaven  would  set  up,  which  should 
stand  forever   and    destroy  all  the   other   kingdoms. 

The  monarch  was  well  satisfied  and  confered  great  hon- 
or on  Daniel.  We  now  return  to  the  text.  There  is  in 
man  a  controlling  principle  of  jcuriosity  which  leads 
him  to  endeavor  to  pry  into  secret  things.  Perhaps  this 
had  some  influence  in  inducing  our  mother  Eve  to  eat 
the  forbidden  fruit.  This  led  the  men  in  Beth-shemeh  to 
look  into  the  ark,  for  which  they  paid  dearly.  We  wish 
to  know  the  secrets  of  our  friends  because  we  love  them; 
of  our  rivals,  because  we  envy  them,  and  of  our  enemies 
because   we   fear   them. 

I\Ien  have  invented  many  ways  to  pry  into  secrets. 
In  c.lden  times  they  would  consult  the  flight  of  birds,  ihe 
entrails  of  animals,  the  stars  and  heathen  oracles.  Some 
now  consult  moles,  warts,  dreams,  fortune-telling  and  the 
spirit    of  deceased    fricntls.       If  the    witch    c»f  Kndor    wore 


244  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

now  living,  she  would  doubtless  have  as  many  followers 
as  she  had  in  the  days  of  Saul.  God  to  check  this  curiosi- 
ty said  that  ''Secret  things  belong  to  the  Lord  our  God;  but 
those  revealed,  unto  us  and  our  children  forever,  that  we 
may  do  all  the  words  of  this  law,  (Deut.  29:29).' 
The  God  of  heaven  is  the  only  revealer  of  secrets. 
Let  us  consider: 

Firstly — The  God  of  heaven  can  reveal  secrets.  If  God 
is  infinite  in  wisdom,  he  must  know  all  secrets;  if  he  is  in- 
finite in  power,  he  can  do  all  he  pleases.  If  he  can  exer- 
cise as  much  power  over  man  as  man,  as  man  can  over 
his  fellowman,  then  he  can  reveal  secrets,  for  man  can  re- 
veal a  secret  to  his  fellow  man.  That  the  God  in  heaven 
can  reveal  secrets,  is  as  evident,  as  that  there  is  a  sun  in 
the  heavens  where  its  beams  fill  our  eyes. 

Secondly — The  God  of  heaven  has  revealed  secrets,  i.  Such 
was  the  work  of  creation.  God  spake  and  it  was  done. 
He  commanded  and  it  stood  fast  forever.  Chaos  heard 
his  voice  and  this  world  existed.  This  was  the  revelation 
of  a  secret  to  all  the  angels  of  heaven,  hence,  *'the  morn- 
ing stars  sang  together,  and  all  the  sons  of  God  shouted 
for  joy." 

2.  In  all  the  events  which  occurred  from  man's  creation, 
all  the  way  down  the  track  of  time  God  has  revealed  secrets 
in  his  providential  dealings  with  individuals  and  communi- 
ties. Thus  in  man's  fall  and  expulsion  from  Eden,  in  the 
ark  and  deluge,  in  the  call  and  history  of  Abraham  and 
his  seed,  in  the  destruction  of  cities,  and  the  preservation  of 
Lot,  in  the  tower  of  Babel,  and  the  confusion  of  languages, 
in  the  bondage  of  Egypt  and  their  deliverance,  in  these,  and 
others  the  God  of  heaven  has  revealed  secrets. 

3.  But  the  God  of  heaven  has  revealed  secrets  especially 
in  his  inspired  volumiC  (the  Bible). 


Revealing  Secrets.  245 

Soon  after  the  fall  He  began  to  reveal  his  secret  purpose 
of  grace.  In  the  prediction,  "that  the  seed  of  the  woman 
should  bruise  the  head  of  the  serpent,"  while  his  heel  only 
should  be  bruised.  And  as  the  lofty  oak  which  crowns  the 
mountain  top  with  arms  spread  wide,  once  existed  in  an 
acorn,  so  the  whole  purpose  of  mercy  had  its  germ  in  that 
one  prediction.  Many  secrets  are  revealed  in  the  Bible,  as 
the  lineage  from  which  he  should  dccend,  from  Shcm, 
from  Abraham,  from  Isaac,  from  Jacob,  from  Isaiah,  from 
David:  where  he  should  be  born,  in  Bethlehem;  when  he 
should  appear,  when  Daniel's  seventy  weeks  should  expire; 
the  work  he  should  perform;  the  treatment  he  should  retrieve 
and  the  result  in  his  kingdom,  with  its  victories,  and  de- 
feats,  and  final    triumphs. 

4.  The  God  of  heaven  has  revealed  many  secrets  in  re- 
gard to  the  mighty  nations  of  antiquity.  As  Babylon,  Nine- 
veh, Tyre,  Egypt  and  Rome,  whose  histories  were  writ- 
ten long    before  the   events   which    sealed   their  doom. 

Think  what  a  vast  amount  of  information  is  conveyed 
in  this  one  chapter  which  streches  forward  from  the  days 
of  Daniel   to   the  close   of  time. 

Thirdly— The  God  of  heaven  is  even  now  revealing  secrets. 

1.  This  is  true  in  his  daily  and  wonderful  work  of  provi- 
dence. Providence  is  a  book  not  yet  completed  but  being 
written,  and  its  added  leaves  constantly  reveal  new  won- 
ders. While  his  purposes  are  eternal,  his  providences  are 
universal.  Thus  every  event,  prosperous  or  afflictive,  every 
infant  born,  and  every  person  who  dies,  every  disaster  on 
rail-road  or  steam-boat  is  a  secret  revealed  by  the  God  of 
heaven.  Yea,  every  thing  we  know  at  night  that  we  did  not 
know  in  the  morning  is  a  secret  which  God  has  revealed  to  us. 

2.  The  God  of  heaven  is  revealing  secrets  in  the  way  of 
grace.     Every  sinner  when  under  genuine  conviction  is  most 


246  Elder  Zelotes  Grenell. 

miserable  and  why?  God  has  revealed  to  him  an  awful 
secret,  his  depravity,  his  just  condemnation  as  a  sinner, 
the  awful  hell  to  which  he  is  justly  exposed.  In  due  sea- 
son that  soul  becomes  most  happy,  because  God  has  re- 
vealed to  him  a  glorious  secret,  the  way  of  salvation 
through  the  blood  and  righteousness  of  Christ,  that  his  sins 
are  pardoned,  and  he  is  saved.  Thus  he  brings  the  blind 
by  a  way  they  know  not,  he  leads  them  in  paths  they  had 
not  known,  he  makes  darkness  light  before  them,  and  cro^^^k- 
ed  things  straight,  Isaiah  45;  1 6.  To  every  soul  who  is 
truly  converted,  the  Lord  has  revealed  these  two  secrets, 
which  though  they  are  contained  in  the  word,  are  secrets 
to  him    till  the  spirit  reveals  them. 

3.  The  Lord  of  heaven  is  also  now  revealing  secrets 
in  regard  to  the  purposes  of  grace.  When  Saul  the  bloody 
persecutor,  and  bold  blasphemer  lay  in  a  house  in  Da- 
mascus located  in  a  street  called  Straight,  the  Lord  appear- 
ed to  Ananias  and  directed  him  to  go  where  Saul  was,' 
and  pray  over  him.  Ananias  objected,  because  of 
Soul's  wickedness,  and  said,  * '  Lord  I  have  heard  what 
evil  he  hath  done,  and  that  he  has  come  here  to  per- 
secute the  saints.  ' 

God  replied,  ' '  Go  thy  way  for  he  is  a  chosen  vessel  to 
bear  my  name  to  the  Gentiles."  Saul  a  chosen  vessel.' 
Oh !  what  a  secret  was  here  revealed  to  Ananias.  Not 
an  angel  in  heaven,  nor  a  saint  on  earth  knew  ihal  un- 
til God  revealed  it  Thus  in  every  converted  soul,  the  God 
of  heaven  reveals  a  secret  in  regard  to  his  purposes  of 
grace.  How  many  a  pious  parent  prays  and  waits  with 
painful  anxiety  in  regard  to  the  conversion  of  a  beloved 
child,  and  when  that  child  is  converted  to  Christ,  how 
glorious  is  the  secret,  which  God  reveals.  When  a  wan- 
dering and  profligate  son  returns  after  a  long  absence  and 


Revealing  Secrets.  24 T 

lias  been  converted,  the  glory  of  this  secret  fills  the  whole 
family  with  delight,  and  angels  in  glory  rejoice  over  such 
secrets  revealed,   and  why  should  not  the    church? 

Fdurtnly — The  God  of  heaven  will  reveal  secrets  in  all 
future  time: 

1.  The  wheels  of  providence,  all  under  the  divine  conrrol, 
will  continue  to  move  onward  and  meet  out  to  individuals, 
families,  and  communities  their  doom.  This  will  involve 
the  progresss,  security,  and  triumph  of  the  church.  In 
the  vision  of  the  prophet  *'to  the  place  whither  the  head 
looked,  they  all  followed."  So  all  the  movements  of  provi- 
dence follow    the   head. 

Christ  the  head  of  the  church,  and  head  over  all  things 
to  the  church.  All  will  move  on  in  the  earth  till  it  has 
answered  the  purposes  of  God  in  its  creation;  then  time 
shall    be   no    more. 

2.  Then  the  judgment  will  sit,  and  all  Adam's  rt3ce  will 
stand  before  the  great  white  throne;  and  Oh  !  what  secrets 
will  then  be  revealed.  The  painted  hypocrite  will  be  undress, 
ed  and  all  his  hypocrisy  exposed  and  he  will  receive  his 
reward.  And  when  those  who  have  suffered  shame,  and 
reproach,  for  the  cause  of  Christ,  the  down-trodden  slave, 
and  the  millions  of  martyrs  will  all  be  rewarded  and  hon- 
ored by  the  Redeemer  before  the  assembled  world.  Oh! 
how  many  a  boasting  professor  here,  who  was  highly  hon- 
ored will  then  hide  his  face  with  shame.  How  manv 
a  poor  trembling  christian  here,  who  was  weak  in  faith, 
and  whose  sinful  propensities  often  got  the  mastery  of 
him,  was  a  trouble  to  the  church  and  a  thousand  times 
more  trouble  to  himself,  who  all  his  life  time  was  as  Bun- 
yan's  "ready  to  halt,"  will  then  appear  among  the  blest 
in  glory.  That  last  glorious  and  awful  sentence  will  be 
according   to   evidence,    and   founded  in   equity,  and  so  the 


248  Elder  Zelotes  Greneu.. 

whole  moral  universe  will  say  Amen  to  all  its  decision  from 
which  there  is  no  appeal. 

From    the    whole   we  may  infer, 

1.  While  doubtless  much  is  yet  a  secret,  we  should  be 
thankful  for  the  vast  amount  God  has  revealed,  and  especial- 
ly that  He  has  made  known  all  that  is  necessary  to  pro- 
mote real  good.  Our  dangerous  condition  as  sinners,  the 
way  of  salvation  through  Christ,  the  means  by  which  a  sin- 
ner may  avail  himself  of  its  advantages  the  motive  to  do 
so,  and  all  personal  duty-social,  moral  and  evangelical  are 
clearly  revealed. 

2.  Wherein  we  walk  in  darkness  and  have  no  light  in 
regard  to  the  future,  instead  of  endeavoring  to  pry  into  secret 
things  we  should  trust  in  the  Lord  and  stay  ourself  on  God  be- 
lieving he  is  at  the  helm,  and  will  safely  guide  our  bark 
through  the  storms  and  bring  it  to  the  heaven  of  rest. 

:<,  The  christian  may  be  assured,  the  great  revealer  of 
secrets,  will  reveal  to  us,  just  as  fast  as  will  promote  his 
own  .glory  and  our  best  good.  The  stories  which  were  in 
Solomon's  temple  were  winding.  Such  is  our  pathway. 
The  future  may  be  dark,  but  present  duty  is  usually  plain. 
He  will  guide  all  his  children  with  his  counsel  and  after- 
wards receive  them  to  glory. 

"But  Oh!  my  soul,   if  truth  so  bright. 
Should  dazzle  and  confound  the  right, 
Y"et  still  his  written  word  obey, 

And  wait  the  great  decisive  day. 


